Ethiopia is willing to give big tech a run for its money following a recent report that it has started creating apps to replace Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Zoom.
It should be recalled that in June, Facebook erased fake accounts antagonising opposition figures contesting for Ethiopia’s House of Peoples’ Representatives election. An act which was interpreted by the director-general of the Information Network Security Agency (INSA), Shumete Gizaw, as Facebook deliberately frustrating the works of people who are preaching peace in the country. Hence, the news to replace the apps does not come as a shock.
However, according to the state communications security agency, the big tech apps will still be in use but not as significant because the local apps will assume superiority.
Shumete proudly disclosed that Ethiopia is making use of local expertise to build the apps. “The rationale behind developing technology with local capacity is clear … Why do you think China is using WeChat?” he said.
Due to the unrest in the Tigray region during the election, the Ethiopian government shut down the internet and social media services, WhatsApp and Facebook inclusive. This generated tons of criticism from its citizens as well as other countries both local and international, one which the government has left unaddressed to date. It only makes sense to link the Ethiopian government’s desire to create its apps as a move to censor social media for its citizens.
