NEW DELHI: After eight consecutive days, social media users in Pakistan continue to face a blackout of services from platform X (formerly Twitter), as reported by Pakistan-based Geo News.
The suspension, which commenced the previous Saturday, has left users unable to access the X platform, with authorities yet to provide a clear explanation for the prolonged disruption.
According to the global internet monitoring organization, NetBlocks, VPN services have also been impacted in Pakistan, exacerbating difficulties for users attempting to circumvent the restrictions and access the micro-blogging site.
Website tracker Downdetector.com said, “User reports indicate possible problems at X (Twitter).” Speaking to Geo TV, Nighat Dad, the executive director of the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF),” said that the X outage is causing a damage to Paksitan’s image. She further said that the PTA is not being transparent regarding these outages and disruptions.
She noted that there is a likelihood of “consuming disinformation by users on platforms like X where people have a space to exercise their fundamental rights of freedom of speech and access to information, specifically during times of elections or conflict.”
Nighat Dad said, “That’s where we need these platforms where people have more and more speech and the other people can counter this information as well, and, specifically around elections.”
She said that the X outage is not sending a good message to investors or international organisations. She said, “I don’t think it’s a good beginning for this newly formed government or the go or any party that is forming a government in Pakistan.”
Notably, Pakistan struggles with internet availability, ranking low in comparison to its peers, while reportedly authorities intermittently disrupt access to social media platforms, according to Geo News report.
Following the recently concluded national polls in Pakistan, citizens have encountered persistent difficulties accessing the social media platform X. According to a report by Geo News, these disruptions to internet services directly infringe upon constitutionally guaranteed rights, such as freedom of information (Article 19-A), freedom of speech (Article 19), and freedom of association (Article 17).
On February 22, the Sindh high court intervened, directing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to fully restore access to the services of social media platform X in Pakistan. The court also requested a comprehensive response from the authority and other relevant parties during subsequent hearings.
However, despite the court’s directive, accessibility to the platform remains restricted as the PTA has yet to comply with the court’s decision.
(With ANI input)
The suspension, which commenced the previous Saturday, has left users unable to access the X platform, with authorities yet to provide a clear explanation for the prolonged disruption.
According to the global internet monitoring organization, NetBlocks, VPN services have also been impacted in Pakistan, exacerbating difficulties for users attempting to circumvent the restrictions and access the micro-blogging site.
Website tracker Downdetector.com said, “User reports indicate possible problems at X (Twitter).” Speaking to Geo TV, Nighat Dad, the executive director of the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF),” said that the X outage is causing a damage to Paksitan’s image. She further said that the PTA is not being transparent regarding these outages and disruptions.
She noted that there is a likelihood of “consuming disinformation by users on platforms like X where people have a space to exercise their fundamental rights of freedom of speech and access to information, specifically during times of elections or conflict.”
Nighat Dad said, “That’s where we need these platforms where people have more and more speech and the other people can counter this information as well, and, specifically around elections.”
She said that the X outage is not sending a good message to investors or international organisations. She said, “I don’t think it’s a good beginning for this newly formed government or the go or any party that is forming a government in Pakistan.”
Notably, Pakistan struggles with internet availability, ranking low in comparison to its peers, while reportedly authorities intermittently disrupt access to social media platforms, according to Geo News report.
Following the recently concluded national polls in Pakistan, citizens have encountered persistent difficulties accessing the social media platform X. According to a report by Geo News, these disruptions to internet services directly infringe upon constitutionally guaranteed rights, such as freedom of information (Article 19-A), freedom of speech (Article 19), and freedom of association (Article 17).
On February 22, the Sindh high court intervened, directing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to fully restore access to the services of social media platform X in Pakistan. The court also requested a comprehensive response from the authority and other relevant parties during subsequent hearings.
However, despite the court’s directive, accessibility to the platform remains restricted as the PTA has yet to comply with the court’s decision.
(With ANI input)
