Tanzanian Activist Takes Meta to Court Over Alleged Censorship

Tanzanian activist Mange Kimambi has taken Meta Platforms to court, accusing the owner of Instagram and Facebook of disabling her accounts under pressure from the Tanzanian government, in a case that could test the limits of social media companies’ cooperation with authorities.

Kimambi, a U.S.-based critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, alleges that Meta acted on behalf of the Tanzanian government to silence her and restrict her ability to communicate with her large online following, according to reports on the legal action.

The case comes after Meta disabled Kimambi’s Instagram accounts in December 2025, shortly after Tanzania’s disputed Oct. 29 presidential election and deadly protests that followed.

Kimambi has rejected the suggestion that her accounts were removed because of violations of Meta’s rules, arguing that the action was politically motivated. The lawsuit seeks to establish whether the company independently enforced its policies or responded to pressure from Tanzanian authorities.

The dispute highlights growing concerns over the role of global technology companies in enforcing government demands in countries where political dissent is under pressure.

A Tanzanian internet governance report published in February said authorities had sought to use regulatory powers to restrict online dissent and identified Kimambi as a prominent activist whose online presence had become a target of government pressure.

The report said that in 2025 the Tanzanian state moved beyond blocking access to Kimambi’s content to seeking the disabling of her accounts by Meta. It also linked the action to a broader pattern of digital restrictions surrounding the country’s elections and subsequent unrest.

Kimambi had built a substantial following through social media, where she regularly criticised the government and used her platforms to mobilise public opinion. Her activism intensified in 2025 as Tanzania approached the general election.

Her accounts were disabled on Dec. 3, 2025, according to Tanzanian media reports. The action came as authorities were pursuing a criminal case against her involving allegations of money laundering.

The prosecution alleges that Kimambi laundered 138.5 million Tanzanian shillings ($56,000) between March 1 and March 31, 2022, with the money allegedly linked to unaccredited journalism and intimidation. She has rejected the allegations. The case has been repeatedly adjourned while investigations continue.

Tanzanian authorities have also discussed possible efforts to have Kimambi returned from the United States to face the charges, according to the internet governance report.

The dispute over Kimambi’s accounts forms part of a wider confrontation between Tanzanian authorities and prominent online critics.

In December 2025, Meta also restricted access in Tanzania to the Instagram account of activist Maria Sarungi-Tsehai following a legal order from Tanzanian regulators. That restriction was later reversed after public pressure, according to the internet governance report.

The distinction between the two cases could prove important for Kimambi’s lawsuit. While Meta publicly linked the restriction of Sarungi’s account in Tanzania to a regulatory order, the company attributed Kimambi’s account removal to enforcement of its own platform rules.

Kimambi’s lawsuit could therefore focus on whether there was any direct or indirect communication between Tanzanian authorities and Meta concerning her accounts, and whether such communication influenced the company’s decision.

The case also comes amid broader scrutiny of Tanzania’s record on internet freedom. The country experienced a nationwide internet blackout during the 2025 election period, while civil society groups documented restrictions on online speech and access to digital platforms.

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