Gabon Threatens Social Media Platforms with £66,000 Fines After Activist Accounts Suspended

Context In February, Gabon’s media regulator ordered an indefinite shutdown of major social‑media services, citing security concerns amid anti‑government protests. The ban spurred a surge in Virtual Private Network (VPN) use as citizens tried to bypass the block. Within weeks, security forces began stopping motorists in Libreville and other cities to confiscate phones with VPN apps, creating an atmosphere of digital intimidation.

Key Facts - A new regulation passed in February mandates that every social‑media user provide a verified name, address and national ID number. Platforms that refuse face fines of 50 million Central African CFA francs (about £66,000) and possible prison sentences for responsible officials. - Activist Nelly Ngabima, also known as Princesse de Souba, reported government threats to “make her disappear from social networks.” Within months, her Facebook, YouTube and TikTok accounts—collectively followed by more than 300,000 users—were suspended. - Felicia Anthonio, campaign manager for the #KeepItOn coalition, called the shutdown “a blatant disregard for freedom of expression and the right to access information.” - The temporary lift of the restrictions in April did not reverse the verification law, leaving platforms in a compliance dilemma. - Opposition leader Alain‑Claude Bilie‑By‑Nze, who challenged the shutdown in court, was arrested in April on old fraud charges that supporters describe as fabricated.

What It Means The fines and criminal penalties signal a shift from collective internet blackouts to targeted enforcement of user‑verification rules. By forcing platforms to collect personal data, the government can more easily identify and silence dissenting voices. The suspension of Ngabima’s high‑profile accounts illustrates how state pressure can translate into platform action, whether through direct takedowns or coerced reporting of “identity‑theft” claims.

Human‑rights groups warn that the law bypasses due‑process safeguards, effectively criminalising the platforms themselves for refusing to hand over user data. The approach mirrors previous Gabonese crackdowns, including the August 2023 shutdown before a contested election and the recent nationality code that eases revocation of citizenship.

For Gabon’s largely youthful population, the restrictions threaten a primary channel for organizing protests, sharing news about the cost‑of‑living crisis, and exposing corruption. As the 2025 presidential election approaches, international observers will watch whether the digital clampdown intensifies or eases under pressure from civil‑society coalitions and foreign governments.