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Ethiopia Seeks to Follow China’s Example By Creating Its Own Social Media Apps as Alternatives to Facebook and Twitter

by Eric Olander
Shumete Gizaw, director general of the Information Network Security Agency, is advocating for Ethiopia's new social media platforms to replace U.S. apps including Facebook, Twitter and Zoom.

China’s nationalist model of cyber sovereignty received another endorsement in Africa on Monday when Ethiopian officials unveiled new ambitions to “replace” U.S.-made social media and communications apps with local versions that can be regulated and censored.

The state communications security agency in Addis Ababa said on Monday that it has no plans to outlaw any foreign social media but will aim instead for local alternatives to Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Zoom to be used instead.

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