Social Media | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Pakistan Press Foundation

Social Media

X Ban: Businesses Suffer, Journalists Struggle, Internet Slows

Pakistan Press Foundation

Since February 17th, an unannounced ban – either partial or full – on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has severely disrupted Pakistan’s digital landscape. Businesses are losing revenue, journalists face obstacles in their work, and internet users nationwide experience significantly slower speeds. The intermittent blocking of X began following allegations of electoral rigging during the February […]


CCP Warns Social Media Influencers About Deceptive Marketing Practices

Pakistan Press Foundation

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has issued a warning to social media influencers, urging them to avoid deceptive marketing practices. The CCP issued a statement on March 6 , noting that it has observed an increase in deceptive marketing practices on social media platforms and that influencers are often involved in promoting products without disclosing […]


Sindh High Court Seeks Clarification on Election Day Internet and Social Media Shutdown

Pakistan Press Foundation

On March 5, the Sindh High Court (SHC) called upon the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Federal Ministry of Interior to submit their responses regarding the petitions filed against the suspension of internet and cellular phone services during the general elections on February 8, and the ongoing ban on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter. […]


Widespread Outage Hits Facebook and Instagram for Hours

Pakistan Press Foundation

A widespread technical issue disrupted the operations of Meta-owned social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp on March 4, causing frustration among users across Pakistan and potentially millions worldwide. According to Downdetector.pk, a real-time internet and social media outage monitoring service, both Facebook and Instagram experienced downtime starting at approximately 8:20 PM PST and gradually recovered […]


Pakistan Senator Withdraws Resolution to Ban Social Media

Pakistan Press Foundation

On March 4, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi withdrew his controversial resolution calling for a sweeping ban on major social media platforms. The move followed widespread criticism from digital rights advocates, journalists, and opposition lawmakers who labeled it a severe attack on freedom of expression. Senator Tangi initially submitted the resolution to the Senate, on March 2, […]


Experts Warn of Economic Impact as Pakistan Suffers Social Media Ban Amid Election Allegations

Pakistan Press Foundation

Access to X, formerly twitter, has remained intermittently blocked since February 17 in Pakistan, following allegations of electoral rigging during the February 8 general elections, leading to concerns among experts regarding economic consequences and the potential spread of disinformation. According to Express Tribune, UK-based Alp Toker, director of NetBlocks said that the disruption could result in millions of […]


X is still down in Pakistan, VPN also restricted

Pakistan Press Foundation

X, formerly known as Twitter, continues to be disrupted in Pakistan for the tenth consecutive day. The outage coincides with restrictions imposed on virtual private networks (VPNs), further limiting access to social media platforms in the country. The disruption has sparked concerns over freedom of expression and access to information, with users unable to utilize […]


Sindh High Court Seeks Explanation for Election Day Internet Suspension

Pakistan Press Foundation

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has demanded explanations from the information technology and communication,  interior ministries and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) regarding the suspension of internet services on election day on February 08 in various parts of the country during the court hearing on February 21. The court expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to […]


Twitter Remains Unreachable for Fourth Consecutive Day in Pakistan

Pakistan Press Foundation

Twitter continues to remain inaccessible in Pakistan for the fourth consecutive day, prompting concerns over freedom of expression and communication rights in the country. The disruption of the popular social media platform, which began on February 17, has caused frustration among users and drawn international attention, with the United States urging Pakistan to ensure unrestricted […]


Sindh High Court (SHC) Orders Restoration of Social Media Platforms, Including X, Amid Internet Shutdown Challenge

Pakistan Press Foundation

On Wednesday, the Sindh High Court (SHC) issued an order directing the federal government and the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to reinstate the services of social media platforms, including X (formerly known as Twitter), throughout Pakistan. As per Pakistan Today, the SHC issued a directive on Feb 21, instructing the federal government and the PTA to […]


SHC Orders Immediate Removal of Obscene Content from Social Media Platforms

Pakistan Press Foundation

In response to petitions filed against the proliferation of obscene content on social media platforms, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed immediate action for the removal of such material. The court’s decision follows mounting concerns over the accessibility of inappropriate content online, prompting calls for regulatory intervention. According to The Nation, the SHC has issued […]


Cyber Threats Surge by 17% in Pakistan in 2023, Global Research Reveals

Pakistan Press Foundation

Experts from a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company Kaspersky have unveiled startling findings indicating a 17% surge in cyber threats in Pakistan during the year 2023 compared to the previous year. According to The Express Tribune the report highlights that cyberattacks have intensified, posing significant challenges to cybersecurity in the country. The study highlights the escalating risk landscape […]


PFUJ urges PML-N to take action over smear campaign against journalists

Pakistan Press Foundation

In a strong-worded statement, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed deep concern over an organised campaign of character assassination and threats directed at senior journalists Meher Bokhari of ARY TV and Amir Mateen of 92 TV by elements associated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on social media. PFUJ President Afzal Butt […]


Internet watchdog reports nation-scale disruption of social media

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: A nation-scale disruption of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, is being reported by users and internet watchdogs in Pakistan on Saturday. NetBlocks, a global internet watchdog, said the incident comes “amid political turmoil after a controversial election held under an internet and mobile network blackout”. Pakistan on Thursday witnessed a countrywide shutdown of internet and cellular […]