Mauritius blocks social media until after elections, opposition and civil society groups cry out about irregularities

PORT LOUIS – Mauritius’ communications regulator ordered all internet service providers to suspend access to social media platforms on Friday until November 11, a day after the upcoming general election, in what the opposition said was a ploy to avoid election defeat.

The island nation has been hit by a wiretapping scandal that has seen about 20 conversations involving politicians, police, lawyers, journalists and civil society members leaked onto social media since mid-October, according to Reporters Without Borders.

The Information and Communications Technology Authority said it was introducing a temporary ban on social media platforms in response to “illegal postings”.

The Prime Minister’s Office said the restriction was necessary to preserve national security and the integrity of the country following the release of “certain” audio clips.

“A crisis committee is currently being convened to contain the existing risks as soon as possible,” Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth’s office said in a statement.

But the opposition said the ban was a political maneuver to avoid defeat in the Nov. 10 election as Jugnauth sought to extend his rule and maintain the parliamentary majority held by his Militant Socialist Movement party.

“The outgoing government knows full well that it is heading towards defeat. So it is using all means to stay in power,” said Naveen Ramgoolam, leader of the Alliance for Change party and Jugnauth’s main rival.

EMTEL, one of three telecom operators in the Indian Ocean country, said it was complying with the directive and warned that “the user experience will gradually deteriorate.”

Two civil society groups, the Internet Governance Forum and the Internet Society, warned in a joint statement that “restricting access to digital platforms will not only stifle democratic processes, but will also harm the economy, disrupt businesses and limit access to important information and services. “

Jugnauth and police had previously said the leaked calls were spoofed using artificial intelligence.

Jugnauth first became prime minister in 2017 when his father stepped down.

Last year, a British court sitting as Mauritius’ final court of appeal upheld Jugnauth’s 2019 election victory, rejecting an appeal by an opposition candidate who claimed it was obtained through bribery and undue influence.

Mauritius-based political analyst Jocelyn Chan Low told Reuters the wiretapping scandal would influence the outcome of the poll.

“There is public outcry about many of the alleged scandals that are still unresolved and that have been the subject of these leaks,” he said. REUTERS