Firewall Installed in Pakistan to Filter Unwanted Internet Content
Published on: June 8, 2024.
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The Pakistani government is implementing a national firewall across various internet service providers (ISPs) in an effort to exert greater control over social media. This firewall will block undesirable content from reaching a wider audience, according to sources. Reports suggest that the firewall has already been purchased and is currently being installed and commissioned.
While Pakistan has previously used technology to block websites and social media apps, this new firewall will specifically focus on inspecting information from different internet protocol addresses. The government aims to identify the sources of “propaganda material” and subsequently block or limit the visibility of those sources.
The main purpose of the national firewall is to locate the origins of propaganda material and take necessary actions to prevent its spread. The government official stated, “I think the main focus will remain on locating the source of such propaganda to nip the evil in the bud.”
To ensure the effectiveness of the firewall, a keyword filtering system will be implemented to detect content that is deemed undesirable or a threat to national security. Such content will likely be hidden from outside users.
Major social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and the platform X (formerly known as Twitter) will be subject to this filtering system.
Additionally, the government intends to prevent the “misuse” of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which may require citizens to inform the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) about the VPNs they are using.
It should be noted that the platform formerly known as Twitter has already been blocked by the government for several months, leading many users to resort to VPNs to access it. However, the government official claims that the platform’s usage in Pakistan has been reduced from 4.5 million to 2.4 million users. The platform’s management has also become more responsive to government demands, including the blocking of accounts belonging to the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society.
Overall, the installation of the national firewall aims to increase control over social media content in Pakistan. It remains to be seen how effective and far-reaching the implementation will be.
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