The digital rights organisation Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has condemned the ongoing suspension of major social media platforms in Gabon and called on authorities to restore access immediately. The Haute Autorité de la Communication (HAAC) announced the restrictions on February 17, 2026, affecting Meta platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, as well as TikTok and YouTube. As of February 20, 2026, access remained blocked.
The HAAC cited concerns over “hateful, defamatory, or injurious” content threatening national stability but provided no evidence, legal basis, or timeline for resuming access. Independent monitoring by NetBlocks confirmed widespread disruptions across Gabon, forcing many users to rely on virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass the restrictions, while connectivity remained unstable nationwide.
According to PIN, blanket platform suspensions violate fundamental digital rights, including freedom of expression and access to information, and disproportionately silence public discourse during a period of anti-government protests and a labour strike in Gabon.
The economic impact of the shutdown is also significant. Using NetBlocks’ loss-per-day calculations, a two-day suspension of WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube has cost the Gabonese economy an estimated $2.96 million (FCFA 1.78 billion). Social media platforms are crucial for entrepreneurs, small businesses, freelancers, journalists, and civil society actors, particularly youth and informal sector participants who rely on these tools for commerce, digital payments, and communication.
PIN noted that Gabon has previously imposed digital restrictions during political unrest, and the recurrence of such measures signals a troubling pattern that undermines transparency, civic participation, and democratic governance.
“Article 9 of Gabon’s Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and information. As a State Party to international and regional human rights instruments, Gabon is obligated to ensure any restriction meets the tests of legality, necessity, and proportionality,” PIN said.
The organisation added that indiscriminate platform suspensions fail this test and violate the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which require internet service providers to maintain transparency and avoid complicity in rights violations.
To address these concerns, Paradigm Initiative is calling for the immediate restoration of full and unrestricted access to all affected social media platforms. The group also urged the HAAC to provide transparency regarding the legal basis of its directives, and for ISPs to publish notices detailing any government orders affecting connectivity.
Paradigm Initiative has worked across Africa since 2017, connecting underserved young people with digital opportunities and advocating for digital rights in more than 27 countries. Its programmes include training in ICT, life skills, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship, as well as safe reporting platforms for digital rights violations.
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