May 14, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lankan authorities have taken steps to temporarily block the Twitter platform for the first time to stop sharing harmful information on social media.
Other social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Viber, Snapchat and Facebook Messenger have already been blocked in the country from yesterday.
Net freedom mapping organisation, NetBlocks data showed that leading internet providers Sri Lanka Telecom, Dialog Axiata, Mobitel, Etisalat and Airtel have implemented these restrictions.
The disruption is the third nationwide censorship order deployed by Sri Lanka in the span of one month.
Meanwhile, the Defence Secretary, General Shantha Kottegoda yesterday urged the public to approach the security authorities immediately on any information related to a security threat without sharing it on social media.