Islamabad 1st August, 2024 (TDI):The Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has warned that VPNs can also be blocked, but the entire business relies on them. During a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Thursday, he revealed that they are whitelisting VPNs to determine which ones should be allowed to operate in Pakistan.
According to the PTA Chairman, despite VPNs being available, Twitter users in Pakistan have decreased by 70%, with only 30% using VPNs to access the platform. Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar noted that Twitter has the lowest usage in Pakistan compared to other social media platforms.
He explained that if posts related to religious sentiments are not blocked, protests erupt in the country. The minister clarified that the government does not mind criticism, but Twitter’s administration has only addressed 7% of their complaints in the past three months.
In a country where social media is a vital means of expression, Pakistan’s blockage of Twitter has created a stark divide. While 70% of users are unable to access the platform, a fortunate 30% have found a way to bypass the restrictions through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
According to Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (R) Hafeezur Rehman, the PTA is working on whitelisting VPNs to determine which ones should be allowed to operate in Pakistan. The move comes as the government continues to grapple with the challenges of regulating social media.
The PTA chairman emphasized that the decision to unblock Twitter lies with the government, and PTA will comply with their directives. He noted that they do not take action against social media companies unless necessary, and only do so under the directives of the federal government.
The majority of complaints received by PTA are regarding TikTok, which promptly blocks content and takes action on complaints. In contrast, Twitter has the lowest rate of compliance.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that the government desires social media companies to establish offices in Pakistan, but they are reluctant due to security concerns. However, these companies are willing to open virtual offices.
The Twitter blockage has sparked a debate on social media regulation in Pakistan, with many users calling for greater freedom of expression online. As the government navigates this complex issue, one thing is clear: the fate of Twitter in Pakistan remains uncertain.
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