Pakistan is implementing a nationwide internet firewall system to monitor and regulate content on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and X (formerly Twitter), according to sources reported to be close to the development. Some say the internet firewall is akin to something that China has to monitor internet content in the country.This move follows the temporary blocking of X in Pakistan earlier this year. The stated goal is said to be to curb the spread of “undesirable content,” which includes propaganda and content deemed offensive by the Pakistani government.
Pakistan’s justification for blocking X centered on the platform’s non-compliance with Pakistani laws and its alleged failure to register within the country. The government maintains that these actions do not violate fundamental rights.
What is internet firewall in Pakistan aims to do
* Identify Propaganda: The firewall will reportedly use Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology to examine data packets and identify sources of propaganda material. DPI can inspect data up to the application layer, allowing for a more granular analysis of content.
* Keyword Filtering: A key feature of the system is Keyword filtering is a key feature of the system. This aims to identify and block content deemed undesirable by the government, potentially including blasphemy, hate speech, or content critical of the state.
* Limit VPN Use: The Pakistani government is also looking to regulate the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) which some users have employed to bypass restrictions on X. Initial attempts to restrict VPNs faced resistance from businesses, leading to a temporary suspension of those efforts.
The temporary blocking of X in Pakistan has significantly reduced its user base in the country. The number of users dropped from 4.5 million to 2.4 million. This suggests that the government’s actions can be effective in limiting access to certain platforms. Additionally, X’s management appears to be more responsive to Pakistani government requests to take down content deemed problematic.
Pakistan’s justification for blocking X centered on the platform’s non-compliance with Pakistani laws and its alleged failure to register within the country. The government maintains that these actions do not violate fundamental rights.
What is internet firewall in Pakistan aims to do
* Identify Propaganda: The firewall will reportedly use Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology to examine data packets and identify sources of propaganda material. DPI can inspect data up to the application layer, allowing for a more granular analysis of content.
* Keyword Filtering: A key feature of the system is Keyword filtering is a key feature of the system. This aims to identify and block content deemed undesirable by the government, potentially including blasphemy, hate speech, or content critical of the state.
* Limit VPN Use: The Pakistani government is also looking to regulate the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) which some users have employed to bypass restrictions on X. Initial attempts to restrict VPNs faced resistance from businesses, leading to a temporary suspension of those efforts.
The temporary blocking of X in Pakistan has significantly reduced its user base in the country. The number of users dropped from 4.5 million to 2.4 million. This suggests that the government’s actions can be effective in limiting access to certain platforms. Additionally, X’s management appears to be more responsive to Pakistani government requests to take down content deemed problematic.
