After Imposing Social Media Tax, Uganda Asks ISPs to Block Pornographic Websites
Aug. 1, 2018Uganda recently made waves after the government imposed a social media tax on the usage ofservices like WhatsApp and Facebookin a bid to prevent the spread of fake news. The Ugandan government is now clamping down on the consumption of pornographic content and has blacklisted certain websites and online services from being accessed in the country.
According to a report, the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) has asked telecom companies and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to pornographic websites, both local and international.
Godfrey Mutabazi, Executive Director at the UCC, revealed that the regulatory body has blacklisted 10 international pornography websites and 17 popular local websites, most of which advertise escort services, and has ordered the telecom companies and ISPs to block them.
However, the ISPs and telecom companies didn’t immediately comply with UCC’s new directive, but when the anti-pornography measure started attracting media attention, the regulatory body announced that a penalty will be imposed on those who fail to comply with the orders. A report fromQuartzsays that as of Monday, only a small number of companies have complied with the new regulation, while a large section continues to defy it.
