Pakistan is deploying a national firewall to monitor and restrict content on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter), according to The News. This initiative aims to limit the spread of “undesirable” content and propaganda.
Firewall will inspect data from various internet addresses to identify sources of propaganda material. Content deemed problematic will be blocked or its visibility reduced. Additionally, keyword filters will detect posts the government considers “undesirable” and potentially hide them from public view.
This expands on Pakistan’s existing practice of website and app blocking. Previously, a Canadian filtering system was used to restrict access on the country’s largest internet service provider.
Officials claim the primary goal is to locate the origins of propaganda and “nip the evil in the bud.” However, concerns linger about the potential impact on freedom of expression. All social media posts, domestic and international, could be subject to scrutiny before full visibility is granted.
The government also plans to address the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass restrictions. Authorities may require citizens to declare their VPN usage to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Non-compliance could lead to unspecified consequences.
The move follows a months-long X blockade, which the government claims has been partially successful. While many users continue to access X through VPNs, overall use has reportedly dropped from 4.5 million to 2.4 million. Officials believe this decline also hurts X’s business in Pakistan.
Government cites X’s alleged past resistance to content moderation requests as justification for the broader controls. For instance, X reportedly refused to block an account used by a retired military officer who was no longer authorized to represent a veterans’ society. This account, they claim, was used to criticize the current military leadership. X has reportedly begun cooperating with some government demands in recent times.
