Meta has disclosed that Tanzanian authorities issued takedown demands targeting Instagram content and warned that failing to comply could result in Meta platforms being blocked in the country.
In its latest transparency report, Meta said the Tanzanian Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) formally requested restrictions on Instagram accounts and posts it claimed violated a wide range of national laws, including constitutional, cybercrime, media, national security and child protection statutes.
Meta said the regulator asked it to block access to three Instagram accounts on grounds that they had breached several Tanzanian laws.
"The Tanzanian Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) requested to restrict access to 3 Instagram accounts for allegedly violating the following laws: the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania (1977), the Cybercrimes Act (2015), the Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations 2020, the Penal Code Cap. 16 R.E. 2022, the Media Services Act 2016, the National Security Act Cap 47 R.E. 2022, the Law of the Child Act Cap. 13 R.E. 2019, and the Personal Data Protection Act (2022)," the report read.
Meta explained that the regulator said the content involved calls for peaceful protests and criticism of the government during the election period, and warned that refusal could lead to Meta’s platforms being shut down in Tanzania.
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"The items included calls for peaceful protests and contained criticism of the government during the election period. The risks of not complying with the request included blocking Meta's platforms in Tanzania," the report added.
As a result, Meta stated that it removed two items for violating its Community Standards and temporarily restricted access to one item in Tanzania.
"We removed 2 items for violating Community Standards. We temporarily restricted access to 1 item in Tanzania in response to regulatory demands and notified the impacted user," the report revealed.
In a separate case from October 2025, Meta said the TCRA demanded restrictions on 17 items posted by a US-based user, citing alleged violations of the Penal Code and cybercrime and national security laws.
"The Tanzanian Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) requested to restrict access to 17 items for allegedly violating various laws including the Penal Code, and Cybercrime and National Security Acts posted by a US-based user. The items included allegations of corruption related to President Samia Suluhu Hassan and calls for peaceful protests during the October 29 presidential elections," the report showed.
According to Meta, the regulator again warned the tech company of the risk of its platforms being blocked if it did not comply.
"The risks of not complying with the request included blocking Meta's platforms in Tanzania," the report noted.
In the end, Meta removed two posts that violated Community Standards, restricted access to 15 items in Tanzania, and informed the affected users.
"We removed 2 pieces of content for violating Community Standards, restricted access to 15 items in Tanzania and notified the impacted users," the report further read.
This development comes a day after Meta explained why it blocked the social media accounts of Tanzanian activists Maria Sarungi and Mange Kimambi.
In a statement on Thursday, December 4, a Meta spokesperson said the actions were taken in response to regulatory demands and violations of platform rules.
According to the tech company, the restriction placed on Sarungi's Instagram account was triggered by directives from Tanzanian authorities.
"We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental right and that our platforms should be a place where users around the world can exercise this right. Following a legal order from Tanzanian regulators, we have restricted access to this Instagram account in Tanzania in response to regulatory demands," the statement read.
Meta also issued an explanation concerning the removal of accounts linked to activist Mange Kimambi, citing repeated violations of the company’s rules.
The spokesperson noted that the company’s policies do not allow users to return to the platform with new accounts after previous removals for breaching community standards.
"While we believe freedom of expression is a fundamental right and that our platforms should be a place where users around the world can exercise this right, we have strict rules about what is and isn't allowed on our platforms.
"These Instagram accounts were removed for violating our recidivism policy. We don't allow people to create new accounts that are similar to those we've previously removed for violating our Community Standards," the statement added.
