Mauritius blocks social media until after election amid wiretapping row

Mauritius has cut access to all social media platforms until November 11, a day after its upcoming general election.

The move on Friday came amid a wiretapping scandal, and even as the opposition raised the alarm about an alleged ploy by the governing party to avoid defeat at the polls.

The Indian Ocean island nation’s communications regulator ordered all internet service providers to suspend access to social media until November 11 in response to “illegal postings”.

The office of Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said the restrictions were necessary to preserve national security and integrity, following the publication of “certain” audio clips.

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

The blocks have come after some 20 conversations involving high-ranking politicians, police, lawyers, journalists and members of civil society have been leaked on social media – mainly on TikTok – since mid-October.

Even cases concerning foreign diplomats were involved, with private calls featuring British High Commissioner Charlotte Pierre also appearing to have been leaked.

Another leak involved the police commissioner apparently asking a forensic doctor to alter a report on a person who died after being beaten in police custody. The audio leak prompted a judicial investigation.