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The government of Somalia has outlawed the social media platforms TikTok and Telegram as well as the online betting application 1Xbet.
On Sunday night, Somalia National Television announced that the action was taken to combat and prohibit indecent actions, content, and propaganda for extremism.
Jama Hassan Khalif, the minister of communications and technology, gave Internet service providers until August 24 to impose the ban or risk unspecified legal repercussions.
“In a bid to accelerate the war and elimination of the terrorists who have shed the blood of the Somali people, the minister of communication and technology instructs companies that provide Internet services to suspend TikTok, Telegram, and 1XBET betting applications, which terrorists and groups responsible for spreading immorality use to spread graphic clips, photos and mislead society," reads the statement in part.
TikTok and other social media platforms are increasingly being banned in various nations.
Last Monday, Kenya's National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula acknowledged receiving a petition to outlaw TikTok.
Wetang'ula reported that Bob Ndolo, the executive officer of the Briget Connect Consultancy, had submitted a petition to his office.
He cited the petitioner's complaints that the social media platform's material is unsuitable and promotes violence, foul language, explicit sexual content, and hate speech, all of which pose a major threat to religious and cultural values.
Due of worries about national security, the social media platform TikTok frequently faced prohibitions in the US.
Federal personnel and state employees in 34 (out of 50) states are not allowed to use the app on official equipment as of June 2023.
Montana became the first state to outlaw TikTok in May 2023, though the ban won't go into force until January 1, 2024, and it's currently being contested in court.
