A report from December 13, 2016, reveals that the Ethiopian government systematically blocked access to social media and news websites during periods of unrest in 2016. This censorship aimed to suppress dissent and prevent the dissemination of information about protests and government actions. The government employed Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology to filter internet traffic and restrict access to platforms like WhatsApp and at least 16 news outlets.
Amnesty International and the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) conducted research between June and October 2016, documenting these internet restrictions. The report highlights that the Ethiopian authorities’ actions were illegal and disproportionate responses to the protests, raising serious concerns about the potential institutionalization of such censorship under the state of emergency.
The Ethiopian government’s actions were widely condemned by human rights organizations, which called for an end to the internet shutdowns and for the restoration of free expression and access to information.
This incident underscores the broader issue of internet censorship and the suppression of free expression in Ethiopia, particularly during times of political unrest.
