Who Has Stopped ‘X’ In Pakistan And How?

News Desk

Islamabad: The informal shutdown of social media platform X (Twitter) in Pakistan has significantly impacted internet users for the past 11 days.

Many users are unable to access X, missing out on the latest news and facing difficulties in obtaining traffic information. Despite directives from the Sindh High Court (SHC) and other forums to restore X’s services, the platform remains inaccessible, displaying an error message prompting users to try again.

The silence of higher authorities on this matter is concerning, as the government has not provided any official explanation for the shutdown.

Former Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaquat Ali Chhata’s allegations of election rigging further complicate the political environment, highlighting the importance of social media platforms like X for sharing information and shaping public opinion.

Experts have suggested that various blocking techniques, such as HTTP blocking and geoblocking, may be employed to restrict access to X.

Net Blocks reports that X services have not been fully restored in Pakistan, leading to intermittent slow access and VPN restrictions. The use of content delivery networks (CDNs) like Akamai to block access to X indicates a deliberate effort to prevent users from reaching the platform.

The potential involvement of a national filtration system in blocking websites, possibly with assistance from China, raises concerns about internet freedom and censorship in Pakistan.

Ongoing tests and limited accessibility to X suggest that the authorities may be experimenting with new technologies to control online content.

The expiration of previous agreements and the acquisition of advanced filtering systems indicate a shift towards more sophisticated methods of content control in the country. Additional input from Dawn.