The Mauritian Communications Regulatory Authority (ICTA) has ordered telecom operators to suspend access to social networks until the end of the legislative elections on November 11, amid leaked wiretapping.
Since mid-October, around twenty conversations involving politicians, police officers, lawyers, journalists and members of civil society have been broadcast on social networks, Reporters Without Borders reported. The ICTA said the temporary suspension of access to social media was in response to “illegal publications.
For the security of the country
The Mauritian Prime Minister's Office said on Friday that these measures were necessary to preserve the national security and integrity of the country.
“A crisis committee is currently meeting to contain existing risks as soon as possible“, said the office of Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth in a press release. The telecommunications operator Emtel, one of the three present in Mauritius, indicated that it was in the process of applying the directive and that “the user experience will be gradually disrupted.”
Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has called early legislative elections for November 10. Candidate for his own succession for a new five-year term, Pravind Jugnauth seeks to retain the majority of his party, the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM).
In a joint statement, two civil society groups, the Internet Governance Forum and the Internet Society, said the dangers of suspending social media far outweigh the perceived benefits.
“Restricting access to digital platforms would not only stifle democratic processes, but also harm the economy, disrupt businesses and restrict access to essential information and services”wrote the groups. Pravind Jugnauth became prime minister for the first time in 2017, after the resignation of his father, Anerood Jugnauth.
