People in Mauritius have been turning en masse to the best VPN apps as authorities have enforced a wide social media shutdown ahead of the general elections.
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok all went dark on Friday, November 1, 2024 – internet watchdog NetBlocks could confirm (see tweet below). The blockage is expected to remain until November 11, the day after the voting. This forces users to find a workaround to keep accessing these services.
“People have rushed to download Proton VPN since early this morning when the social media ban came into force, and we expect them to continue to use VPNs heavily until at least 11th November, when the ban is due to lift,” David Peterson, General Manager of Proton VPN, told me.
⚠️ Confirmed: Metrics show multiple social media platforms have been restricted in #Mauritius; the incident comes as authorities order ISPs to suspend access until after elections later this month, on grounds of national security after the leaking of “certain” audio clips pic.twitter.com/mRGqlR4XsuNovember 1, 2024
Peterson said the provider recorded a spike in usage of 16000% above normal levels so far – and it’s “quickly growing.” Other data shows VPN demand across the country is 16,107% higher than the daily average over the 28 days prior.
Authorities ordered the blockage to halt the spread of illegal content that may “threaten national security and public safety.”
The country has recently been rocked by a wiretapping scandal, in fact, during which sensitive conversations involving politicians, police, lawyers, journalists, and members of civil society have been leaked on social media – Reuters reported.
Digital rights strongly…
Read full post on Tech Radar
