The Ethiopian government has lifted its five-month-long ban on Facebook, Telegram, TikTok, and YouTube, allowing citizens unrestricted access to these social media platforms as of Wednesday. During the ban, citizens could only access these platforms through virtual private network (VPN) software, which incurred additional data costs. Amnesty International condemned the blockage, stating that it violated citizens' rights to freedom of expression and access to information. The Ethiopian authorities have previously implemented internet restrictions on multiple occasions in response to various social and political events. As the government eases the restrictions, citizens in Addis Ababa were observed freely accessing social media sites, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, without the need for VPNs.

Source: Ethiopian News July 20, 2023 06:11 UTC