Social media restrictions lifted in Ethiopia

Restrictions to social media platforms Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram have been lifted by authorities in Ethiopia according to a news report. The UK based internet observatory Netblocks, posted a tweet early  Monday 17 May of the unavailability of service on the social media platforms in Ethiopia. Whilst the immediate reasons for the restrictions remained unclear, it is believed to be due to, according to Netblocks, ‘renewed international condemnation over Tigray conflict and the recent postponement of elections.’    Ethiopia has a record of restricting the internet in the past, and in 2019, Netblocks estimated the financial loss to the economy due to a major blackout to be around US$ 17 million.