In a significant development, it has emerged that X (formerly Twitter) is currently inaccessible in Pakistan due to its failure to comply with local regulations. Government sources have disclosed to that X (formerly Twitter) did not adequately address the presence of illegal content, with only a fraction of flagged material being removed. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) reportedly forwarded over 67,000 links to Twitter for removal, but the platform acted upon only a portion of them. Additionally, authorities found Twitter’s response to content deemed blasphemous to be insufficient. This move comes after repeated warnings to Twitter to adhere to Pakistani laws, including specific instructions to block content violating regulations.
The PTA had previously submitted a report to the Ministry of Information Technology regarding Twitter’s non-compliance, recommending stringent measures such as platform suspension and significant fines.
READ MORE: Speaker Convenes NA Session on Feb 29 Despite President’s Refusal
The prolonged disruption of social media platform X in Pakistan has exceeded ten days, raising significant concerns about the country’s access to digital communication and freedom of expression. X, which was blocked on February 17th, remains inaccessible to users across Pakistan as of February 27th. Amidst the disruption, social media users in Pakistan have resorted to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access X (Twitter). However, reports suggest that government efforts to block VPNs are hindering users’ ability to circumvent the restrictions, leading to increased frustration among the online community.
The initial block on Twitter in Pakistan stemmed from allegations of electoral irregularities made by the former chief commissioner of Rawalpindi, Liaquat Ali Chatta, following the general elections held on February 8th. In an attempt to address the issue, the Sindh High Court (SHC) issued directives last Thursday, urging authorities to restore access to social media platform X and ensure uninterrupted service nationwide. However, despite the court’s orders, implementation remains elusive, prolonging the period of restricted access for users and exacerbating concerns regarding digital rights.
