By Sandra Brown
The government of Equatorial Guinea has taken a controversial step by restricting citizens from downloading and sharing multimedia files on WhatsApp when using mobile data. This directive aligns with recent guidelines issued to telecommunications operators, instructing them to limit access to content deemed inappropriate by the state.
The decision comes amid a significant scandal involving Baltasar Engonga, the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency, who has been implicated in a high-profile sex scandal. Engonga, a 54-year-old economist, is currently under investigation for fraud. During an unexpected search of his home and office, officials reportedly discovered hundreds of videos depicting encounters with prominent figures’ wives.
The scandalous footage is said to include over 400 recordings, involving individuals such as his brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of Equatorial Guinea’s president, the police director general’s wife, and around 20 wives of ministers. These recordings, found on CDs in Engonga’s office, were reportedly made with consent and have since been leaked, igniting widespread public and media outrage.
In response to the restriction, local media outlet Ahora EG highlighted the frustration among citizens, who now face difficulties sharing photos, videos, and audio files through WhatsApp unless connected to WiFi. Users argue that the measure unfairly penalizes the public for the actions of a few.
Quoting a local source, Ahora EG reported, “Should an entire country pay for the actions of a few? The likely decision to restrict access to essential communication functions seems disproportionate and punitive, affecting thousands of users who, in addition to entertainment, also use these platforms for work and educational activities.”
Another source added, “In a world where digitalization is becoming more important, should we shut down our platforms and paralyze activities due to the actions of a few? Currently, users are forced to rely exclusively on WiFi connections, which not only limits their ability to communicate but also disrupts their daily activities.”
The report further mentioned that Equatorial Guinea’s Vice President, Teddy Nguema, announced plans to install surveillance cameras in all state offices. This sweeping initiative aims to strengthen compliance with public service laws and reduce misconduct among officials.
( Source Punch)