Nations that changed from the Axis powers to the Allies
Venezuela temporarily blocked X for 10 days in August 2024 during protests, following the reelection of Nicolás Maduro. The ban extended beyond that initial period.
TikTok has been unavailable in Uzbekistan since July 2021, after the authorities said it wasn't compliant with the country's personal data protection laws.
In August 2023, the Somali government announced that it was banning TikTok, Telegram, and the online betting website 1XBet, claiming the apps were used for dangerous propaganda.
Nepal banned TikTok for all citizens in November 2023, claiming the app was "detrimental to social harmony."
In March 2023, the UK banned all government employees from using TikTok on government-provided devices due to concerns over data security.
Senegal instituted a total ban on TikTok in August 2023, after an opposition candidate was accused of using the platform to spread "hateful and subversive messages." The Senegalese government has refused to reinstate the app unless a feature is developed that allows the government to remove specific accounts.
Although TikTok isn't banned across the European Union, several member states have imposed restrictions, particularly concerning its use on government devices. The bans are based on concerns about data privacy and cybersecurity.
In December 2022, Taiwan banned all government devices from using Chinese-made software, including TikTok, after a warning from the FBI.
In April 2023, TikTok was banned from Australian government devices due to concerns over data security. However, it's still allowed on devices belonging to the general public.
The small, formerly Soviet country banned TikTok in August 2023, claiming that the application was harmful to the development of children.
Armenia temporarily blocked TikTok for multiple days during border clashes with Azerbaijan in September 2022.
Congress and the armed forces have banned TikTok from all of their employees' devices due to concerns over national security and data privacy. Approximately half of all states ban the app on state-owned devices, and the Federal government similarly banned the app from employees' devices in March 2023.
In December 2022, Jordan blocked access to TikTok after the platform was used to share content related to protests over rising fuel prices. The ban was implemented as a temporary measure, however, TikTok is still blocked.
Sources: (Time) (BBC) (Deutsche Welle)
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The Taliban government banned TikTok in April 2022, saying that the application was "misleading youths."
In August 2021, the Bangladeshi government banned several social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok, in order to "save children and adolescents from moral and social degradation." The applications were later allowed to return, providing its content moderation was in line with the nation's cultural sensibilities.
In October 2023, the Indonesian government banned TikTok Shop because it violated the country's e-commerce laws. The app was also temporarily banned in 2018 for hosting content that was deemed "blasphemous" and "inappropriate for children."
Social media platforms, like X and TikTok, have faced temporary bans in Pakistan. This is largely due to content that the government deemed blasphemous or offensive to Islamic values. The bans usually occur during times of political tension.
Vietnam has periodically restricted access to Facebook, particularly during times of political unrest or when there are significant protests. Facebook has also faced pressure to remove content that "opposes" the government.
From 2007 to 2011, the Syrian government blocked the access of over 200 websites, including X and Facebook. The government of Bashar al-Assad imposed the ban to prevent activists from organizing protests and spreading dissenting views. The ban was lifted during the early stages of the Syrian Civil War, but these websites remain heavily monitored.
In June 2020, India banned TikTok along with 58 other Chinese apps, citing national security concerns. The ban followed border clashes between India and China, and concerns were raised about data privacy and the potential for Chinese government access to user data.
Turkey has a history of temporary social media bans, particularly during political turmoil. The government has cited the need to prevent the spread of misinformation, protect national security, and maintain public order as reasons for restringing X and Facebook. In August 2024, Instagram was blocked for nine days because it restricted posts related to the death of Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas.
In June 2021, Nigeria suspended X's operations after the platform deleted a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari, which was seen as threatening. The ban was lifted in January 2022 after X agreed to meet several conditions, including registering in Nigeria and paying taxes.
North Korea has extremely limited internet access, with social media platforms, such as X and Facebook, made inaccessible to the general population. The block is to prevent citizens from accessing outside information that could challenge the regime's propaganda.
One of the most isolated countries in the world, Turkmenistan blocks X and Facebook, along with many other foreign websites. The state tightly controls all media and internet access.
Following the military coup in February 2021, Myanmar's new military government blocked social media platforms, such as X, Facebook, and Instagram, to control the flow of information.
As of late February 2022, Facebook and X have been restricted in Russia as a wartime measure amid the invasion of Ukraine. The Russian government accused the social media platforms of spreading fake news about the conflict.
X and Facebook have been blocked in Iran since the Green Movement protests in 2009. The ban was imposed to inhibit the organization and prevent the spread of anti-government protests, which were largely coordinated via social media. The ban also controls political dissent and limits the influence of Western media.
China banned X, along with Facebook, Flickr, and Hotmail, in 2009. This came after the Uyghur protests in the city of Urumqi escalated into riots, with the Chinese government suspecting that the platform was used to organize the protests and spread misinformation. The country promotes its own social media platforms, such as WeChat and Weibo, as alternatives.
In August 2024, Brazil's Supreme Court upheld a ban on X after the platform failed to appoint a new legal representative in the country before a court-imposed deadline. The situation stemmed from a dispute between Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and Elon Musk, which began in April 2024 when the judge ordered the suspension of dozens of accounts for allegedly spreading disinformation. According to the judge's order, the ban would remain in effect until X named a new legal representative and paid fines for violating Brazilian law. After fulfilling these requirements, the platform started operating again on October 8, 2024.
Azerbaijan also blocked TikTok temporarily during border clashes with Armenia in 2022. The application was blocked again one year later in the name of "anti-terrorist measures." It was restored a month later.
Around the world, governments have restricted social media platforms, like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and TikTok. Often it's because of political turmoil, such as protests, elections, or military activity. Other reasons are to combat disinformation, national security concerns, data privacy, or cultural sensitivity. Some of these restrictions are long term and ongoing, while others are more sporadic.
Curious to learn more? Click on to discover the countries that have banned X, TikTok, and/or Facebook.
Countries that have banned X, TikTok, and Facebook
These countries have banned or restricted major social media platforms
LIFESTYLE Social media
Around the world, governments have restricted social media platforms, like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and TikTok. Often it's because of political turmoil, such as protests, elections, or military activity. Other reasons are to combat disinformation, national security concerns, data privacy, or cultural sensitivity. Some of these restrictions are long term and ongoing, while others are more sporadic.
Curious to learn more? Click on to discover the countries that have banned X, TikTok, and/or Facebook.