Tanzanian activist blocked from Instagram after mobilising election protests
Tanzanian activist, Sarah M., found her Instagram account blocked on Monday after using the platform to mobilize protests against alleged election fraud in the recent presidential elections. Sarah M. had been actively calling for supporters to join peaceful demonstrations to demand a recount of the votes, citing irregularities and suppression of opposition voices.
Instagram stated that the account was disabled due to a violation of community guidelines, specifically regarding the incitement of violence. The social media platform emphasized its commitment to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all users. Sarah M. has condemned the move, arguing that she was simply exercising her right to freedom of speech and assembly.
The Tanzanian government, on the other hand, has supported Instagram’s decision, labeling Sarah M.’s posts as inflammatory and falsely accusing the government of electoral misconduct. Officials have reiterated that the election was fair and transparent, dismissing any claims of fraud.
Sarah M. remains undeterred by the block and has vowed to continue her advocacy through other means. Supporters have echoed her calls for transparency and accountability in the electoral process, with some expressing concerns about the shrinking space for dissent in the country.
The incident has sparked a debate about the role of social media in political activism and the limits of online speech. It also raises questions about the balance between freedom of expression and the prevention of incitement to violence in the digital age.
Sources Analysis:
Instagram – The social media platform may have an interest in maintaining a positive reputation and adhering to community guidelines to avoid controversy or legal issues.
Sarah M. – The activist is directly involved and may have a motive to present her actions in a favorable light to garner support and sympathy for her cause.
Tanzanian government – The government has an interest in maintaining control and authority, potentially influencing its stance on the situation.
Fact Check:
Sarah M.’s Instagram account blocked – Verified fact, confirmed by Instagram’s statement.
Sarah M. mobilized protests against alleged election fraud – Unconfirmed claim, as the extent of the alleged fraud is not specified.
Instagram cited violation of community guidelines – Verified fact, confirmed by Instagram’s statement.
Tanzanian government supported Instagram’s decision – Verified fact, reported by multiple sources.
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Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “Tanzanian activist blocked from Instagram after mobilising election protests”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.