It’s election day in Uganda, and there is already a problem. Facebook and Twitter are down. They were put down, it seems.
Facebook and Twitter are being blocked in Uganda as elections get under way this morning. The… https://t.co/m1KKc8gZl4
— 🇺🇬 TMS Ruge 🇺🇦 (@tmsruge) February 18, 2016
This is not a drill
The access blockade has put a serious crimp in the plans of transparency advocates who were counting on realtime and crowdsourced reports of the goings-on to keep things relatively free and fair. It could also cause more serious problems.
Without access to Twitter & Facebook,difficult to verify rumours that are rife on WhatsApp.This gives room for intimindation #UgandaDecides
— Rosebell Kagumire (@RosebellK) February 18, 2016
Apparently, traditional media is looking the other way
@ntvuganda @NbsTv @DailyMonitor Why aren't you & other local media reporting that we can't access social media without VPN? #UgandaDecides
— Peter G. Mwesige (@pmwesige) February 18, 2016
But savvy Ugandans are not letting the social media blockade hold them back. A lot of people can’t get online, but some people have access.
https://twitter.com/Hashim11/status/700194514523262976
They are circumventing the networking restrictions with VPNs.
#Uganda shuts down Twitter & Facebook last night ahead of this election. Am accessing through a VPN. #Ugandadecides
— Rosebell Kagumire (@RosebellK) February 18, 2016
There is an app for that. And people are sharing.
Here is a VPN option you can use. It worked for me. Tell your friends. #UgandaDecides. pic.twitter.com/cjUtjJ9p2x
— Mark Keith Muhumuza (@mumakeith) February 18, 2016
Here is another one
@RosebellK Hotspot shield app for Android users pic.twitter.com/DybTolR69c
— Ssentongo (@roger_sent) February 18, 2016
Others are using Opera Mini, which seems to also have its way of getting past the restrictions.
"If you cant access social media sites while using the Apps try using Opera mini and log in.. #UgandaDecides" https://t.co/v9xHsZ0QXz
— Namulwana Barbara (@NamulwanaBarbar) February 18, 2016
Uganda’s digital natives refuse to be held back
https://twitter.com/murezi_jr/status/700182462761193473
The access workarounds do not guarantee that enough people will be able to distribute and more importantly, verify information about the ongoing elections as quickly as they should. But it’s a good thing that the blackout isn’t total, and that there is still some visibility into what is going on on the ground.
Photo Credit: Computechts via Compfight cc
