Results for: Internet Censorship

Pakistan’s government is facing criticism for slowing down the internet and implementing new controls, allegedly to curb dissent and criticism of the military establishment. While officials claim the measures are necessary for security, activists and business leaders warn of the economic consequences and infringement on fundamental rights. The slowdown, attributed to a new firewall system, has disrupted services like WhatsApp and impacted the IT sector, raising concerns about Pakistan’s attractiveness for foreign investment.

Pakistan is considering blocking VPNs to prevent its citizens from accessing X (formerly Twitter), which was banned in the country earlier this year. The government fears the widespread use of VPNs to bypass the ban and is developing a plan to regulate VPN usage, potentially whitelisting some networks and blocking others. The move has raised concerns about potential negative impacts on businesses that rely on VPNs, and the effectiveness of such a plan remains to be seen.