On Monday, the widely used social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, experienced intermittent service disruptions in Pakistan. This followed a 36-hour blockade initiated on Saturday, February 17, and subsequent restoration briefly on Monday.
NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring organization, initially reported a nationwide disruption of X on Saturday, attributing it to growing unrest and protests related to allegations of election fraud. The situation escalated with the resignation of Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaqat Ali Chatha, who confessed to vote manipulation under his supervision. The revelation sparked controversy, leading to ongoing protests.
Despite a brief restoration on Sunday, the platform remained restricted, marking the latest and lengthiest in a series of nationwide internet censorship measures imposed by authorities, according to NetBlocks. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has not provided responses to inquiries regarding these actions.
Digital rights activist Usama Khilji criticized the government for imposing internet restrictions, highlighting multiple instances of social media app blockades in the past three months. He emphasized that such actions, including the shutdown of mobile internet on election day, violate both the law and the Constitution. Khilji noted that the Sindh High Court had issued an order restraining authorities from disconnecting the internet.
Khilji expressed concern that internet blockages may have contributed to irregularities in election result compilation, raising doubts about the democratic process. He urged questioning the PTA chairperson about the excessive restrictions on internet services, adversely affecting the country’s investment climate and the IT sector.
Acknowledging the economic impact, Khilji mentioned estimates from the Pakistan Institute for Development Economics, indicating a loss of Rs1.3 billion due to internet blockades. He emphasized that such disruptions harm the country’s image, affect ease of doing business, and hinder the growth of the IT sector, deterring foreign investors.
Contrary to the belief that social media fuels disinformation, Khilji argued for the use of self-correction and co-regulation mechanisms instead of imposing laws against fake news. He highlighted existing platforms for reporting misinformation to social media networks and emphasized the need for responsible handling, especially when disinformation originates from the state.
