The Ethiopian government has ended a five-month internet restriction on popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok, and YouTube. The restrictions were initially implemented on February 9, 2023, in response to anti-government demonstrations stemming from conflicts within the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. However, the ban received criticism from human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, who argued that it violated citizens' right to access information and freedom of expression. The Ethiopian Media Council also voiced concerns about the repeated shutdowns of social media sites. During the blackout, many Ethiopians resorted to using VPNs to access the internet and social media. The ban is estimated to have caused significant economic losses of over $140 million.

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