• July 21, 2024
• Social Media

On July 20, WhatsApp users across Pakistan experienced disruptions in sending media files through the app while using mobile data. Despite widespread reports, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and cellular mobile operators (CMOs) claimed to have received no official complaints. Users reported being unable to upload media files, such as photos and videos, while connected to mobile […]

• July 18, 2024
• Social Media

A restriction on access to the social media platform Facebook was reported across multiple service providers starting on July 16 and 17.  The restrictions coincided with the annual observance of Yaum-e-Ashura. Downdetector, which tracks outages by collating status reports from several sources, including users, showed numerous reports of problems accessing Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta. […]

• July 12, 2024
• Social Media

A Senate standing committee has expressed strong disapproval of the government’s decision to block the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), questioning the rationale and effectiveness of such measures in addressing national security concerns. During a session held on July 10, the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications grilled government officials […]

• July 11, 2024
• Social Media

TikTok removed more than 20 million videos from Pakistan in the first quarter of 2024 due to violations of community guidelines. This makes Pakistan the second-highest country in terms of the number of videos removed, with the United States being the highest. According to TikTok’s latest transparency report, the platform removed 20,476,684 videos from Pakistan during this […]

• July 9, 2024
• Social Media

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) rejects the government’s response justifying the blanket ban on X, formerly Twitter. Even if the government’s concerns regarding national security and public safety have validity, they do not justify the complete closure of the platform without any clear timeline or process for when such a ban could be lifted.  PPF calls […]

• July 5, 2024
• Social Media

On July 4, the Punjab government requested the federal government suspend social media platforms for six days from Muharram 6 to 11, citing security concerns. The request was officially communicated to the Ministry of Interior and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The proposed suspension covers platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and YouTube. In a letter addressed to the […]

• July 4, 2024
• Social Media

On July 2, Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take action against individuals who disseminated Justice Babar Sattar’s personal information on social media. The court also requested assistance from the social media platform X to identify the accounts involved. The FIA has identified five individuals concerning the data leaks, including […]

• July 2, 2024
• Freedom of Expression, Social Media

On June 23, 2024, Benazir Shah, the editor of ‘Geo Fact Check,’ found her X account, formerly Twitter, compromised following her comments on a blasphemy case. The cyber attack spiraled into severe online harassment instigated by followers of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). Shah endured a distressing invasion of privacy as hackers altered her profile image […]

• June 21, 2024
• social media, Social Media

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on June 20 issued a notice to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) seeking its response to a petition requesting a complete ban on TikTok. The petition, filed by lawyer Imran Khan, alleges that the popular video-sharing application continues to host “blasphemous and indecent” material. The petitioner argued that this content […]

• June 20, 2024
• Freedom of Expression, General News, Information Technology, Social Media, social media

On June 13, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari assured journalists that the newly introduced defamation law would not impact their work. She clarified that the legislation is aimed at social media influencers who spread misinformation for financial gain. Bukhari also announced the allocation of a one billion rupees budget for healthcare of the journalists’ community. […]

• June 20, 2024
• Access to Information, social media, Social Media

On June 14, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson criticized the government for what the party described as an “unconstitutional, illegal, and dictatorial” installation of a firewall that the party stated was intended to suppress fundamental rights to freedom of expression and access to information. It was reported that to regulate online content, the Government of […]

• June 11, 2024
• Social Media

To regulate online content, the Government of Pakistan is installing a national firewall across various internet service providers (ISPs) to control and block unwanted content on social media. A well-placed official, when asked if the firewall had been purchased, confirmed to The News, “It is already bought. Now it is being installed and commissioned.”  Pakistan has […]

• June 10, 2024
• Social Media

Over 44,000 social media accounts and posts have been removed or blocked from Facebook, X [Twitter], and YouTube since January 2023, according to data from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) disclosed to The News that, under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, 44,418 unlawful social media accounts and posts were […]

• June 8, 2024
• Social Media

On June 4, Saad Ahmed, a 24-year-old YouTuber, was fatally shot while capturing the local fervor for the T20 World Cup 2024. The incident occurred at the Serena Mobile Market in the Sakhi Hasan area in Karachi.  Ahmed was filming a video capturing the local enthusiasm for the cricket tournament. According to police reports, Ahmed was interviewing […]