Gabon lifts eight-month ban on social media platforms
Gabon's media regulator, the HAC, announced on Saturday 24 October that it was lifting the social media suspension imposed in February. It said the step followed talks with technology companies on moderation.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Gabon's media regulator, the High Authority for Communication (HAC), announced on Saturday that it had lifted the ban on social media imposed eight months earlier. BBC NewsN “The High Communication Authority (HAC) announced the U-turn on Saturday in a televised statement.” Read at BBC News ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “Gabonese authorities lifted the ban on social media networks in the central African country after eight months, according to a Saturday statement by the regulator.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 2The ban was introduced on 17 February and covered major platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. BBC NewsN “The ban had been introduced on 17 February” Read at BBC News ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “including WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram in February” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 2The HAC had justified the suspension by saying online content was fuelling conflict and deepening divisions, and accused users of spreading defamatory, hateful, false and insulting content that undermined national security and social cohesion. BBC NewsN “the HAC saying that online content was fuelling conflict and deepening divisions in the country” Read at BBC News ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “It accused internet users of disseminating defamatory, hateful, false and insulting content via social media platforms.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 1HAC spokesman Jean Claude Mendome said the suspension was meant to allow the government to adapt its legal framework to regulate social media better, and that lifting it followed direct discussions with major international technology companies on ways to improve moderation. Anadolu AgencyN “The suspension aimed to “allow the government to adapt its legal framework to better regulate social media,” he added.”“Mendome said lifting the ban followed direct discussions with major international technology companies on mechanisms to improve moderation on the platforms.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1The HAC urged users to be "more responsible and mature" online, and Anadolu reported that a regulation passed in February requires social media users to provide verified names, addresses and ID numbers. Anadolu AgencyN “HAC urged users to be “more responsible and mature in their online exchanges and behaviors”“A new regulation passed in February requires social media users to provide verified names, addresses and ID numbers.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 2The ban drew widespread criticism: the opposition called it an abuse of power and activists described it as an attack on internet freedom, and many Gabonese, reportedly thousands, used VPNs to get around it. BBC NewsN “The opposition said the suspension was an abuse of power.” Read at BBC News ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “came under criticism from activists who described it as an attack on internet freedom.”“thousands of citizens are said to have turned to virtual private networks, or VPNs.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 2The ban came during social unrest under President Brice Oligui Nguema, with teachers and civil servants striking over pay and conditions and, per Anadolu, protests over the cost of living. BBC NewsN “Teachers and civil servants had staged strikes over what they said were low pay and poor working conditions.” Read at BBC News ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “amid anti-government protests over the high cost of living” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 2Nguema, who led a 2023 coup that ended 55 years of Bongo family rule, won last year's election with more than 90% of the vote, per the BBC; the BBC noted he had pledged reform although previous governments used digital blackouts to control information. The BBC said it had approached the regulator for comment. BBC NewsN “Nguema won last year's elections with more than 90% of the vote, two years after his coup had ended more than five decades of rule by the Bongo family.”“where digital blackouts were used by the previous governments to control information.” Read at BBC News ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “who seized power in a 2023 coup that ended 55 years of rule by the Bongo family” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets report the lifting as a regulator announcement following a widely criticised ban. The BBC stresses the political context of unrest and opposition criticism; Anadolu stresses the regulator's explanation and the new rules.
- Emphasis
- BBC: social unrest, the opposition's 'abuse of power' charge, the Bongo-era history of digital blackouts. Anadolu: the HAC spokesman's statement, tech-company talks and the ID-verification regulation.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The BBC does not mention the tech-company talks or the ID rule; Anadolu does not mention the opposition's reaction or the Bongo-era blackouts.
- Charged language
- “U-turn”“abuse of power”
- For example
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“The opposition said the suspension was an abuse of power.” — BBC News
“Mendome said lifting the ban followed direct discussions with major international technology companies on mechanisms to improve moderation on the platforms.” — Anadolu Agency
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The HAC announced on Saturday that the social media ban was lifted after eight months.
- The ban began in February and was widely criticised.
- Many users turned to VPNs to get around it.
- President Brice Oligui Nguema came to power in a 2023 coup and won the subsequent election.
Where accounts differ
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Why the ban was lifted and what it was for
- Centre
- BBC reports the HAC's original reason (content fuelling conflict) and that the opposition called it an abuse of power; Anadolu relays the regulator's account that it let the government adapt its legal framework and that lifting followed talks with tech firms on moderation.
Gabon place
Gabon's regulator says the suspension let the government adapt its legal framework and that moderation talks with tech firms preceded the lifting; critics called it an abuse of power and an attack on internet freedom.
“The suspension aimed to “allow the government to adapt its legal framework to better regulate social media,” he added.” — Anadolu Agency
“The opposition said the suspension was an abuse of power.” — BBC News
UK and Ireland1 outlet
BBC frames it as a reversal of a controversial ban amid unrest and opposition criticism.
“Gabon says it has lifted a ban on social media imposed eight months ago - a move that triggered widespread criticism at the time.” — BBC News
BBC News
Middle East1 outlet
Anadolu foregrounds the regulator's statement and moderation talks with tech firms.
““The HAC has decided to lift the suspension of social media platforms,” spokesman Jean Claude Mendome said in the statement.” — Anadolu Agency
Anadolu Agency
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Gabon says access to social media restored after eight-month ban
Neutral Presents the lifting as a 'U-turn' and sets it against political unrest and opposition criticism.
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Gabon lifts ban on social media networks after 8 months
Neutral Leads with the regulator's explanation, tech-company talks and call for responsible use, with critics' views included.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 25 Oct 14:39 First BBC NewsN Gabon says access to social media restored after eight-month ban
- 25 Oct 19:06 +4h 26m Anadolu AgencyN Gabon lifts ban on social media networks after 8 months
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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