The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that selectively blocking individual posts and videos on major social media platforms is technically difficult because of encrypted internet connections.
The authority submitted its report in Writ Petition No. 4163 of 2026, explaining the technical challenges involved in restricting specific online content.
According to PTA, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google and X use HTTPS encryption to protect communication between users and their servers.
As a result, telecom operators can identify the platform a user is accessing but generally cannot see the specific content or resource being requested.
Why Selective Content Blocking Is Difficult
PTA explained that HTTPS encrypts data exchanged between users and online services.
Therefore, an intermediary network operator can determine that a user is communicating with a particular platform or server. However, it cannot normally identify the exact post, video or webpage being accessed through that encrypted connection.
This creates a technical limitation for attempts to block individual pieces of content. For example, blocking one video on a platform such as YouTube would require identifying that specific resource within an encrypted connection.
PTA said such selective blocking may therefore not be technically possible without cooperation from the relevant social media company.
PTA Can Request Platforms to Remove Content
The authority said it can approach social media companies through official channels when specific content needs to be reviewed. However, platforms assess such requests according to their own community guidelines and terms of service.
Consequently, a platform may reject a request if it does not meet the company’s internal policies or legal requirements.
PTA’s explanation is consistent with earlier cases in which the authority told courts that social media companies assess complaints under their own policies.
Blocking an Entire Platform Remains an Option
According to PTA, another technical option would be to block access to an entire website or platform. However, such a measure would also prevent users from accessing lawful content available through the same service.
The authority therefore indicated that broader blocking should be considered alongside legal authority, proportionality and its wider consequences.
This means that restricting an entire platform could affect both unlawful and legitimate material.
Encryption Creates Challenges for Regulators
The PTA’s report highlights the growing challenge regulators face when trying to control specific online content. Modern platforms increasingly rely on encrypted connections to protect users and their communications. At the same time, regulators may receive complaints requiring them to restrict particular posts, videos or pages.
The gap between these legal requests and the technical limitations of encrypted networks can make selective blocking difficult.
In August, the IHC also sought responses from the PTA and other authorities in a separate petition concerning the regulation of social media use by children under 16.
For now, PTA’s position is that platform cooperation remains important when authorities seek to remove specific online content.
The report also shows why blocking an entire social media service can have consequences beyond the material authorities initially seek to restrict.
For the latest updates, visit and follow The Truth International website (www.thetruthinternational.com) and subscribe to the YouTube Channel.
