Tanzania police launch probe after official X account hacked

The Tanzania Police Force has launched investigations after its official X account was hacked and used to post false news, including claims about the death of a senior government official.

The force has dismissed the content as fake and warned the public not to believe or share it.

A statement from the Police Force spokesperson described the posts as unethical and not representative of any official communication.

"These reports are not true, and it should be understood that the Police Force does not prepare or circulate such information on its social media platforms," the statement reads.

The statement added that efforts were underway to identify and apprehend those behind the hacking.

"While we continue to track down those who created and circulated this information so they can be apprehended, we urge the public to ignore such information and refrain from further spreading it if they come across it," it said.

The hacked account is the verified handle of the Tanzania Police Force on X, formerly Twitter, under the username @tanpol.

The police have said strict action will be taken against anyone involved in creating, circulating, or continuing to share the false information.

Tanzania enforces strict cybercrime laws under the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, which was created to address the growing threat of crimes committed online.

The law covers offenses such as hacking, identity theft, cyberbullying, and publishing false or misleading information.

Under this law, publishing deceptive content online with intent to mislead or cause harm is a punishable crime.

Offenders risk fines starting from 2 million Tanzanian shillings or at least 7 years in prison, or both, depending on the severity.

Spreading misleading or defamatory content is punishable by a fine of at least 5 million shillings or imprisonment for not less than 3 years.

Producing or distributing such material can attract a fine of at least 3 million shillings or a minimum one-year prison term, or both.

The Police Force has urged the public to stay alert and avoid spreading unverified information, warning that all those found involved will face full legal consequences.