State Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Arafat announced that social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, have been temporarily suspended to curb potential violence and prevent casualties. He addressed this decision during an urgent press conference held in the Parliament building’s tunnel on Sunday afternoon.
Arafat explained that social media has often been exploited globally to spread rumors, escalate tensions, and incite violence, which can lead to serious harm and casualties. To mitigate these risks, the government has implemented this temporary shutdown.
He stressed that this action is aimed at protecting public safety and is not intended to silence individuals or restrict communication unjustly. The primary objective is to reduce the risk of casualties, violence, and conflict, aligning with the government's duty to maintain public order.
The Minister also noted that similar measures have been adopted by other countries in response to similar situations.
Earlier on Sunday, there were reports of widespread issues with mobile internet across the country, with users unable to access Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, or other websites. Subsequently, access to these social media platforms was also restricted via broadband internet.
