- Title: Not all Somalis agree with TikTok, Telegram and 1XBet ban
- Date: 21st August 2023
- Summary: MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (AUGUST 21, 2023) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TIKTOKERS FILMING TIKTOK VIDEO AT PEACE GARDEN IN MOGADISHU (SOUNDBITE) (Somali) SELF PROCLAIMED PRESIDENT OF TIKTOK IN SOMALIA, ABDULKADIR ALI MOHAMED, SAYING: "TikTok has many benefits for Somali youth wherever they are particularly youth from age 18 to 40 who make a lot of money from TikTok and also develop small businesses through TikTok." YOUNG TIKTOK USERS SITTING TOGETHER VARIOUS OF MOHAMED AND THEN ANSWERING HIS PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Somali) SELF PROCLAIMED PRESIDENT OF TIKTOK IN SOMALIA, ABDULKADIR ALI MOHAMED, SAYING: "The light in many homes will go off because of the TikTok ban and many will lose their homes. Many teenagers will come with applications and CVs to government offices. They will leave their work and will go to government offices. Then the government will have to employ or control them. We are calling on the government not to ban TikTok because that is where we get our daily bread" VARIOUS OF GOLD TRADER, HALIMO HASSAN SELLING GOLD TO HER CLIENT FROM TIKTOK
- Embargoed: 4th September 2023 18:32
- Keywords: BAN SOMALIA TIKTOK
- Location: MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
- City: MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
- Country: Somalia
- Topics: Africa,Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001592621082023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Somalia has banned TikTok, messaging app Telegram and online betting website 1XBet to limit the spread of indecent content and propaganda, its communications minister said.
"The minister of communications orders internet companies to stop the aforementioned applications, which terrorists and immoral groups use to spread constant horrific images and misinformation to the public," the minister, Jama Hassan Khalif, said in a statement late on Sunday (August 20).
Several TikTok users in Somalia, who make money from posting videos or promoting their wares on the platform, said they opposed the ban. Abdulkadir Ali Mohamed, who calls himself Somalia's 'TikTok President' said many Somalis use TikTok to earn money and work.
Halimo Hassan, sells gold on TikTok, and is worried she will lose customers.
She urged the government to allow trade on the platform whilst restricting detrimental content.
Members of insurgent group al Shabaab often post their activities on TikTok and Telegram.
The decision comes days after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the government plans a military offensive against al Shabaab to eliminate the al Qaeda-linked group in the next five months.
Telegram said in a statement: "Telegram consistently removes terrorist propaganda in Somalia and worldwide".
It added that it "actively moderated" harmful content on its platform.
1XBet did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
TikTok declined to comment, saying they were awaiting official communication about the ban.
The order gave internet service providers until Aug. 24 to comply.
1XBet is popular in Somalia for betting, especially on soccer matches.
TikTok has been threatened with bans in the United States over its alleged ties to the Chinese government.
The state of Montana became the first to ban the app in May.
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