Mauritius’s communications authority has mandated that internet service providers suspend access to social media platforms from November 1 until November 11, following a wiretapping scandal that has recently come to light.
Since mid-October, approximately 20 leaked conversations involving politicians, police, lawyers, journalists, and civil society members have circulated online, according to Reporters Without Borders.
The Information and Communication Technologies Authority cited “illegal postings” as the reason for the temporary ban, asserting that it is necessary to safeguard national security and the country’s integrity.
The Prime Minister’s office stated that a crisis committee is addressing the risks posed by the leaked audio clips.
Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth is seeking to maintain a parliamentary majority for his Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) party in the upcoming election on November 10.
He has claimed that the leaked calls may have been manipulated using artificial intelligence.
Civil society organizations, including the Internet Governance Forum and the Internet Society, have criticized the ban, arguing that limiting internet access could harm democracy, disrupt businesses, and restrict access to vital information.
Jugnauth first assumed the role of prime minister in 2017 when his father stepped down.
A British court upheld his 2019 election victory last year, dismissing claims of bribery and undue influence.
