Dar es Salaam. The government on Wednesday ordered police to conduct “online patrols,” claiming the measure would monitor individuals allegedly using digital platforms to disrupt peace and security in Tanzania, while also combating cybercrime.
Home Affairs Minister Innocent Bashungwa issued the directive during the inauguration of a new police station in Sanya Juu, Siha district, Kilimanjaro, as part of government efforts to enhance police infrastructure and strengthen law enforcement in the country.
Addressing Inspector General of Police (IGP) Camillus Wambura, Bashungwa warned that criminals are increasingly operating online, urging police to heighten vigilance in preventing digital crimes and maintaining law and order.
“Just as you conduct regular ground patrols, we must also strengthen online patrols to control financial theft and criminals who aim to disrupt the peace and tranquility of our country through online platforms,” the minister directed.
While Bashungwa’s directive could reflect a legitimate effort to combat Tanzania’s growing cybercrime threat, critics fear it may also serve as a pretext for tightening state control over the digital sphere ahead of the October 28, 2025 elections—potentially stifling dissent and further restricting civic freedoms.
The directive arrives amid a rapidly shifting digital landscape in Tanzania, marked by the government’s ban on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and reported restrictions on Clubhouse and Telegram.
Authorities defended the X ban by claiming it hosted pornographic content—a move critics view as part of a broader pattern of tightening online control ahead of elections.
NetBlocks, a cybersecurity watchdog organisation, confirmed the X ban on May 20, 2024, which came shortly after a series of cyberattacks on government accounts. This marked the second X blockade in less than a year, with the first also attributed to security concerns.
Additionally, popular social audio app Clubhouse and messaging service Telegram have become inaccessible without Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). On June 4, 2025, Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) expressed “deep concern and unequivocally condemned” the X ban, calling on authorities to “immediately restore access to X, Clubhouse, Telegram, and any other restricted platforms.”
Tanzania’s internet censorship occurs within a legal and regulatory framework that has progressively expanded state authority over internet use. The Cybercrimes Act of 2015 and the Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations of 2020, along with its 2025 amendments, have been central to these changes.
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These laws contain provisions that have been a subject of discussion among international human rights organizations, who note their broad scope. For example, the Cybercrimes Act includes provisions that criminalize various online activities, such as publishing “false information,” one of the charges that CHADEMA national chairperson Tundu Lissu currently faces including that of treason.
The Online Content Regulations establish licensing requirements for online content creators and mandate the removal of content deemed undesirable. Several local and international human rights organisations have called for these laws to be amended to allow free flow of information and ensure freedom of expression.
In recent months, journalists have faced prosecution and some media outlets have experienced suspensions of their online platforms for allegedly violating these laws and regulations, which the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have condemned for their potential effect on press freedom.
As the October 28, 2025 general election approaches, the government’s increased online patrols and continued management of digital platforms will continue to raise questions about the electoral process, already boycotted by leading opposition party CHADEMA.
Rights organisations such as LHRC have persistently reported that the ability of citizens to access diverse information, engage in political discourse, and hold officials accountable is affected when online spaces are subject to significant controls.
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International bodies, human rights organizations, and digital rights advocates continue to monitor the situation and advocate for freedom of expression and an open internet in Tanzania.
