Service blocking
Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Viber, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger
Sri Lanka has banned social media again following a reported flare-up in religious tensions, three weeks after a series of suicide bombings rocked the country.
Facebook (FB) and its mobile messaging platform WhatsApp were both blocked on Monday, as was another popular messaging app, Viber, a senior Sri Lankan government official said.
The platforms were blocked to prevent “social unrest via hate messages and false information,” Nalaka Kaluwewa, director general of the country’s Department of Government Information, told CNN.
- Total Duration 3 days, 23 hours
Sri Lanka
- Population
- 22,037,000
Freedom House rates Internet freedom as Partly Free
Local impact
Sri Lanka has banned social media again following a reported flare-up in religious tensions, three weeks after a series of suicide bombings rocked the country.
Facebook (FB) and its mobile messaging platform WhatsApp were both blocked on Monday, as was another popular messaging app, Viber, a senior Sri Lankan government official said.
The platforms were blocked to prevent “social unrest via hate messages and false information,” Nalaka Kaluwewa, director general of the country’s Department of Government Information, told CNN.
Related documentation
As per the directive issued by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) Facebook, WhatsApp,Viber, IMO, Snapchat, Instagram & YouTube would be restricted with immediate effect until further notice. — Dialog Axiata (@dialoglk) May 13, 2019
Sri Lanka Implements Social Media Ban After Anti-Muslim Riots READ MORE: https://t.co/oKtWmnYSFv pic.twitter.com/35DxpuCUap — Rogue Rocket (@TheRogueRocket) May 14, 2019
Other supporting information
It’s difficult to measure the effect of local/regional Internet shutdowns as most measurements are done at a country level. Learn more.