Govt denies alleged plans to block social media platforms

The Maldivian government has denied rumors it plans on blocking certain social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat.

The denial comes amid rumors that the government plans to submit legislature once the Parliament reopens in February to ban certain social media platforms.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Heena Waleed, the chief spokesperson at the President’s Office, described the rumors as “blatant lies.”

“The government has not made any decision to block any social media platform. Nor has the government discussed implementing such a measure,” she said.

ސޯޝަލް މީޑިޔާގެ ބައެއް ޕްލެޓުފޯމުތައް ބްލޮކުކުރުމަށް ސަރުކާރުން ވިސްނަމުންދާކަމަށް ބުނެ ފަތުރަމުންދާ ވާހަކަތަކަކީ ކަނޑައެޅިގެން ދޮގު ވާހަކަތަކެއް ކަމުގައި ދަންނަވަމެވެ. ސޯޝަލް މީޑިޔާގެ އެއްވެސް ޕްލެޓުފޯމެއް ބްލޮކުކުރުމަށް ސަރުކާރުން ނިންމާފައިނުވެއެވެ. އަދި އެފަދަ ފިޔަވަޅެއް…

— Heena Waleed (@MvSpokesperson) January 15, 2025

Heena added that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu wishes “to promote and provide fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution to the full extent of the bounds of the constitution.”

TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat are among the most popular social media platforms in the Maldives.