Twitter and Facebook have reacted angrily after a partially successful attempt was made to block social media platforms in Uganda prior to the country's recent presidential election. The criticism came after it was revealed that internet service providers in the country had been pressured by the ruling party to block both Twitter and Facebook.
The recent election results, in which reigning Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni claimed victory, have already been challenged by opposition candidates who claim that the vote itself was rigged in favour of Museveni, who has been President of Uganda since 1986. Opposition parties, including the leading challenger party, the National Unity Party (NUP) led by Bobby Wine, have stated that ballot boxes were stuffed with fake votes. They also claim that opposition media, including online activists, were shut down by the reigning regime.
Twitter's Global Public Policy team released a statement prior to the disputed elections saying:
"Ahead of the Ugandan election, we're hearing reports that Internet service providers are being ordered to block social media and messaging apps. We strongly condemn internet shutdowns — they are hugely harmful, violate basic human decency and the principles of the #OpenInternet… Earlier this week, in close coordination with our peers, we suspended a number of accounts targeting the election in Uganda. If we can attribute any of this activity to state-backed actors, we will disclose to our archive of information operations."
Ahead of the Ugandan election, we're hearing reports that Internet service providers are being ordered to block social media and messaging apps.
— Twitter Public Policy (@Policy) January 12, 2021
We strongly condemn internet shutdowns – they are hugely harmful, violate basic human rights and the principles of the #OpenInternet.
It concluded:
"Access to information and freedom of expression, including the public conversation on Twitter, is never more important than during democratic processes, particularly elections."
The New York Post reported:
"Uganda shut down all social media in the country Tuesday after the country's longtime leader accused Facebook of taking sides in the upcoming presidential election on Thursday."
While many are rightly outraged by the shutting down of online social-media platforms prior to an election some conservatives in the United States have said that the social-media firms are being hypocritical as both Facebook and Twitter banned former US President Donald Trump from their platforms following the riot at the Capitol building.
Both Facebook and Twitter do however contest that the case of the Ugandan elections and the case of Donald Trump are entirely different. In the case of former president Trump, both platforms took the decision to impose a ban based upon the fact that Trump was regarded by them as inciting violence and social chaos by egging on supporters with fake claims regarding election rigging. In Uganda, it is simply the case that the government wished to block free speech from those who they disagreed with and who posed no threat to the general peace.
h/t: Daily Wire
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