Pakistan - August 2024

The social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) has been banned for six months, with the government citing national security concerns since the February general elections. The Sindh High Court is hearing multiple petitions against the ban, with rights experts questioning its legal grounding. Pakistani users have resorted to using virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent the block. Simultaneously, businesses and rights activists have decried plummeting internet speeds affecting WhatsApp and other internet services, which, according to media reports, have dropped by 40 per cent. Digital rights experts have criticized the ban and internet disruptions as a violation of citizens’ right to free speech, with some industry experts noting that Pakistan is testing a firewall security system to monitor network traffic and control online spaces. The government and telecommunication authorities have provided conflicting responses behind the disruptions, citing a faulty undersea cable, a “web management system” upgrade to deal with cyber security threats and the overuse of VPNs. The conflicting responses have prompted an Islamabad High Court hearing on the matter set for 3 September.

Sources: Amnesty International, The New York Times, Dawn (1), The Diplomat, Dawn (2), The Express Tribune, VOA News