BREAKING: Equatorial Guinea Restricts WhatsApp Over Sex Scandal 

BREAKING: Equatorial Guinea Restricts WhatsApp Over Sex Scandal 

The Government of Equatorial Guinea has recently implemented restrictions on its citizens, preventing them from downloading and sharing multimedia files via mobile data on WhatsApp.

This decision came after the government issued guidelines to telecommunication operators, urging them to take steps to limit access to inappropriate content.

The country’s Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency, Baltasar Engonga, found himself embroiled in a scandal involving extramarital affairs with several prominent women.

This scandal unfolded during a fraud investigation, leading to searches of his home and office, where numerous incriminating CDs were discovered, revealing his liaisons with various married women, including high-profile individuals such as family members of government officials and ministers.

Over 400 videos of these encounters, recorded with consent, were allegedly found in his office and subsequently leaked online, sparking widespread media attention.

As a result of these events, Equatorial Guinean citizens have expressed frustration over the inability to share multimedia content like photos, videos, and audio using mobile data, forcing reliance on WiFi networks for such purposes.

Speaking with a source, the platform quoted a source as saying, “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 of these platforms who, in addition to serving them for entertainment, also use them for their work and/or educational activities.

“In a world where digitalisation is becoming more and more important, should we shut down our platforms and paralyse our 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 interferes with their daily activities.

“This situation has generated a heated debate among the population, where many believe that the measure seems to be more focused on controlling than facilitating communication,” the report added.

Ahora EG also quoted another querying, “Is it really fair that everyone should suffer the consequences of the actions of a few? The authorities have not yet provided any explanation for the reasons behind this restriction, as well as the duration of the same. At a time when information and communication are more vital than ever, the lack of transparency only aggravates citizens’ concerns.”

Additionally, the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Teddy Nguema, announced plans to install surveillance cameras in all state offices to uphold public service laws and tackle misconduct among officials.