Gabon cyberattacks surge linked to VPN use after social media ban

A coalition of Gabonese civil society groups has filed legal complaints across multiple jurisdictions in Libreville, accusing foreign actors of orchestrating a wave of cyberattacks targeting local users, particularly on WhatsApp and Facebook.

The collective disclosed that over fifty complaints were lodged by citizens from diverse backgrounds, all reporting similar incidents of unauthorized account access. A technical investigation by the group suggests that the surge in attacks coincides with the widespread adoption of VPNs, widely used to bypass the country’s ongoing social media blackout since February 17.

“The origins of these attacks typically trace back to foreign numbers with prefixes like +500 or +600, indicating that the perpetrators may not even be based in Gabon,” stated Patrice Thérence Mezui, President of the National Human Rights League and spokesperson for the coalition. “This pattern strongly suggests a coordinated effort to exploit the current digital restrictions.”

The collective argues that the High Authority for Communication (HAC)‘s decision to suspend social media access has inadvertently created a vulnerability, turning what was once an isolated issue into a widespread security crisis. “This measure directly violates constitutional freedoms, particularly those safeguarding fundamental rights,” Mezui emphasized.

Legal challenges have faced procedural hurdles, with both the First Instance Court and another tribunal declaring themselves incompetent to rule on the case, citing the administrative nature of the contested measure. The coalition has now escalated the matter to the Council of State, awaiting its ruling while emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Demands for immediate social media access restoration

The civil society groups are calling for an immediate end to the social media ban, describing it as a near-permanent restriction rather than a temporary measure. Their demands include:

• The swift enactment of a recently passed parliamentary bill regulating social media use
• Negotiations to establish a nationally agreed framework for digital freedom
• The removal of the HAC’s suspension order, deemed disproportionate and incompatible with rule-of-law principles

The HAC justified the blackout as necessary to combat misinformation, cyberbullying, and hate speech. However, activists counter that the measure is excessive and undermines democratic principles, leaving citizens exposed to cyber threats.