Reasons Zambia Blocked Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp And Twitter During Elections

Social Media Illustration

JAKARTA - Social media and messaging apps, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Twitter, were being blocked in Zambia on Thursday as elections were taking place in the East African country.

Quoted from The Verge, Friday, August 13, the digital rights organization Access Now and internet monitor NetBlocks said this was done to stop the spread of misinformation about the election.

The blockade, which affects state-owned internet providers and other private networks, could cut voters off from vital forms of communication during controversial elections.

"We've looked into this and can confirm that there appears to be a social media shutdown affecting our apps and others, such as Twitter", a Facebook spokesperson told CNN International.

It is known that Zambian President Edgar Lungu is seeking his vote again, with businessman Hakainde Hichilema as his main challenger. Lungu complained about the chaos in the three provinces that made elections in the region not free and unfair.

"How can you talk about free and fair elections when our opponents regard these elections as war?", Lungu said.

In addition, Lungu also accused the opposition of masterminding this brutal incident and wanting to rule Zambia by force. However, Lungu had ordered the army to strengthen its troops' presence in the Western, Northwest, and Southern provinces.

Zambia's Electoral Commission also reported "unprecedented" levels of turnout in presidential and parliamentary elections, with long lines remaining at many polling stations by 6 p.m. local time when voting was due to end.

However, votes are still allowed to be cast to anyone still in line. Usually, information promoting voter safety and security will be disseminated on social media and messaging apps, ranging from polling wait times to examples of potential voter fraud, but now people who want to know about election information, and want to communicate should switch to using a VPN.