The Sri Lankan government, on Sunday, imposed a nationwide social media blackout. All social media platforms-- Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms were blocked after a 36-hour curfew from Saturday to Monday was declared.
The move comes amid protests going on as the nation faces an economic crisis. "Confirmed: Real-time network data show Sri Lanka has imposed a nationwide social media blackout, restricting access to platforms including Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Instagram as an emergency is declared amid widespread protests," NetBlocks, an internet observatory tweeted.
The island nation is facing a severe power crisis, with people having to face 13-hour blackouts as the government scrambles to secure foreign exchange to pay for fuel imports. A London-based rights watchdog on Saturday warned the Sri Lankan government that the declaration of emergency in the island nation, in the name of public security, should not become a pretext for human rights violations, an ANI report reads.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who declared a state of emergency on Saturday said the emergency had been declared to protect public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.
