Internet Censorship in Pakistan—A Comprehensive Look at Government Restrictions

Pakistan's internet censorship landscape is a complex issue with far-reaching implications for its citizens. The government has imposed various restrictions on online content, including blocking of websites and social media platforms.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is responsible for implementing these restrictions, which are often justified under the pretext of national security and morality.

In 2017, the PTA blocked over 800,000 websites, including some of the world's most popular websites, citing "objectionable content." This move sparked widespread criticism from human rights groups and internet freedom advocates.

The government's censorship efforts are not limited to blocking websites; it also monitors and regulates online content.

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The Pakistani government has taken a very active role in censoring the internet, blocking over 80,000 websites on grounds of morality and obscenity.

In January 2016, the government instructed internet service providers to block 400,000 'objectionable' websites at the domain level, but this plan was put on hold due to concerns about the high cost.

PTA, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, frequently requests Facebook, Twitter, and Google to restrict or remove 'objectionable content' in Pakistan.

Facebook received 719 requests from Pakistani authorities in the first six months of 2016, requiring data related to criminal cases and information on 1,029 user accounts.

The government also made 280 requests to Facebook to retain information, while 363 user account data was requested to be preserved for official criminal investigations for 90 days.

Between January and June 2014, Facebook restricted 1,773 pieces of content in Pakistan under local blasphemy laws and prohibition of criticism on the state.

Pakistan also made a total of 9 removal requests from Twitter between January and June 2016.

In March 2017, the Interior Ministry informed the Islamabad High Court that Facebook removed 85% of 'objectionable' material requested by the government of Pakistan.

The government has also been working on a national URL filtering and blocking system, similar to China's Golden Shield, which would allow for the blocking of up to 50 million URLs at a time with a processing delay of not more than 1 millisecond.

This system is still in development, but it highlights the government's commitment to strict internet censorship in Pakistan.

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In Pakistan, the government uses various tools and technologies to implement internet censorship. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has installed a Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) system, which was provided by Canadian firm Sandvine, to filter and block blasphemous content and material considered a threat to Pakistan's integrity or security.

One notable example of censorship in Pakistan is the use of Netsweeper, a Canadian internet-filtering product, which was discovered by the Citizen Lab in 2013. Netsweeper was categorized billions of URLs and added approximately 10 million new URLs every day, with ISPs in Pakistan using DNS tampering to block websites at the behest of the PTA.

The PTA has also been accused of using DPI to suppress vote-rigging videos during the Musharraf administration. The ban on these videos was lifted on 26 February 2008.

The OONI network measurement tests, which were conducted to examine internet censorship in Pakistan, used a variety of tests, including Web Connectivity, HTTP Invalid Request Line, and Vanilla Tor. These tests aimed to identify whether specific URLs, instant messaging apps, and the Tor network were blocked in Pakistan.

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Here are some of the specific tests that were run as part of the OONI network measurement tests:

YouTube was blocked in Pakistan for brief periods in 2008 and 2010 due to blasphemous material.

The website Flickr was also partially blocked in 2010 for similar reasons.

Some notable bans include Richard Dawkins's website and the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), which were blocked for brief periods in 2013.

Other banned websites include Pouet, a demoscene website, and Imgur, an image sharing platform, which were blocked in 2015 and 2020 respectively.

Here's a list of some of the websites that have been blocked by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA):

YouTube was blocked by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority in February 2008 due to blasphemous material.

Flickr was partially blocked in 2010 for similar reasons.

Omegle, a social networking service, was blocked without a stated reason in November 2021.

9gag was also blocked without a stated reason.

Wikipedia was partially blocked in May 2010 for containing blasphemous material.

Twitter was blocked in 2010 for the same reason.

Rabwah Times, an online newspaper, was blocked on May 29, 2014, and remains blocked to this day.

WordPress was blocked on March 22, 2015, citing national security concerns.

Quora was blocked on September 17, 2019, but was unblocked just seven days later without a stated reason.

Reddit was partially blocked in 2019 for containing pornography.

Imgur was blocked on January 3, 2020, but was unblocked on December 23, 2020.

ImgBox was blocked without a stated reason.

uTorrent, a torrent client, was blocked without a stated reason.

TikTok was blocked on October 9, 2020, for immoral content, but was unblocked just 11 days later.

DeviantArt was blocked in December 2021 for containing pornography and remains blocked until May 21, 2024.

Facebook was blocked on April 16, 2021, without a stated reason, but was unblocked just four hours later.

Wikipedia was blocked again on February 4, 2023, for sacrilegious content, but was unblocked on February 7, 2023.

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Insaf.pk, a political website, was blocked on January 26, 2024, and remains blocked to this day.

Twitter was blocked again on February 19, 2024, for spreading disinformation and will remain blocked until May 8, 2025.

Here is a list of notable bans:

Video games have been banned in several countries due to their perceived negative impact on children and society.

In 2005, China banned the sale of video games to minors, citing concerns over addiction and violence.

The ban was implemented after a series of violent incidents involving minors, which were linked to excessive gaming.

In 2010, the United Arab Emirates banned the sale of video games to minors, following a similar pattern of concerns over addiction and violence.

The UAE ban was also motivated by a desire to promote traditional Arab values and culture.

The video game "Grand Theft Auto" was specifically cited as a contributing factor to the UAE ban, due to its depiction of violence and crime.

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In July 2020, the PTA banned the online game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. This ban sparked a strong reaction from social media users in Pakistan.

Millions of users took to Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms to show their support for the game. The PTA ultimately lifted the ban in response to the overwhelming support.

The ban was short-lived, but it highlights the power of public opinion in shaping censorship decisions.

The study on internet censorship in Pakistan acknowledges several limitations. The testing period was between 5th October 2014 to 22nd September 2017, which means censorship events before and after this period were not analyzed.

The study also had a limited number of URLs tested for censorship, with a total of 1,057 URLs examined. These URLs were selected in collaboration with community members, but the selection might have been biased, and some URLs might have been mis-categorized.

The network measurements were collected from 22 local vantage points in Pakistan, but OONI's software tests were not run consistently across all networks, with the majority of measurements coming from one network (AS23674).

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The internet slowdown in Pakistan began in mid-2024, initially blamed on undersea cable repairs, but it soon became clear that the problem was more deliberate and widespread.

The government's vague justifications citing "national security" concerns only fueled public frustration and deepened suspicions about its true motives.

Internet shutdowns cost Pakistan over Rs65 billion in 2023, affecting 83 million people and lasting 259 hours, according to Statista.

The slowdowns were so severe that many began to speculate that they were part of a broader effort to control public discourse and limit the reach of specific content on platforms like X and Facebook.

Pakistan ranked 7th globally in economic losses from internet disruptions, with a total loss of USD 237.6 million.

The government's lack of transparency and contradictory statements about what was happening made it clear that there was more at play than just technical difficulties.

When it comes to posting content, there are limits to what you can share. Some platforms have strict guidelines around what's considered acceptable, such as no hate speech or harassment.

The definition of hate speech can vary depending on the platform, but it generally includes language that promotes violence or discrimination against a particular group. For example, a platform may consider a post that targets a specific racial or ethnic group as hate speech.

Some platforms also have rules around sharing explicit or graphic content. This can include images or videos that depict violence, gore, or other disturbing themes. For instance, a platform may not allow users to share images of self-harm or suicidal behavior.

In addition to these rules, some platforms also have guidelines around sharing copyrighted material. This can include music, videos, or text that's protected by copyright laws. For example, a platform may not allow users to share entire songs or movies without permission from the copyright holder.

Sharing fake news or misinformation is also a no-go on many platforms. This can include intentionally spreading false information or using manipulated images or videos to deceive others. For instance, a platform may remove posts that contain false information about a public health crisis.

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The government's role in internet censorship in Pakistan is a topic of great concern. The PTA has admitted to "tinkering" with the internet as part of an effort to upgrade a controversial web monitoring system.

Internet slowdowns have become a common occurrence during periods of political tension, with the government deliberately slowing down or shutting off the internet to curb protests and control public opinion. In 2023, the government throttled the internet to suppress protests following the arrest of a former Prime Minister.

Simple tasks like banking, accessing healthcare services, and staying in touch with loved ones abroad have become more challenging due to these internet slowdowns.

The government's role in controlling the internet has become increasingly scrutinized. The PTA has admitted to "tinkering" with the internet as part of an effort to upgrade a controversial web monitoring system.

In times of political unrest, the internet has been deliberately slowed down or shut off to curb protests and control public opinion. This has happened in 2023, following the arrest of a former Prime Minister, and again in 2024.

The internet slowdown has affected daily life in unimaginable ways. Simple tasks like banking, accessing healthcare services via telemedicine, and staying in touch with loved ones abroad have become more challenging.

The government's tactics have been criticized by digital rights activists and opposition leaders, who see the internet as a tool of repression.

The government of Pakistan has established a regulatory framework for press freedom, but it's not entirely independent. Press freedom is guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution, which has limitations that don't align with the guidelines set by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) are state-owned regulators that oversee the media, but they function as subordinates to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This lack of autonomy makes it difficult for the media to operate freely.

Media regulators like PEMRA and PCP have formulated a media code of conduct, but critics argue that it would be more effective if it came from an independent media itself. Self-regulation is often seen as a more robust and sustainable approach to media professionalism.

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 has introduced sections that could threaten investigative journalism, by restricting access to critical information and criminalizing certain forms of access. However, the government has recently passed the Public Interest Disclosure Bill, which aims to protect whistleblowers and promote transparency.

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Pakistan's surveillance laws pose a significant threat to citizens' right to privacy. The country's constitution, specifically Article 14, Clause 1, provides for the inviolability of the home's privacy, but it doesn't explicitly protect digital communications.

PECA 2016 allows the state to snoop into citizens' digital communications, retain personal data for up to a year, and share it with foreign governments and agencies. This law legitimizes the state's activities, making it difficult for citizens to maintain their online anonymity.

Phone calls are often tapped, with the state intelligence agencies admitting to monitoring over 7,000 phone lines every month.

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Privacy is a fundamental human right, but it's under threat from rapid advances in technology and government surveillance programs. The right to privacy is protected under global human rights law, but governments are struggling to keep up.

In Pakistan, the Constitution of Pakistan provides for the inviolability of the privacy of the home, subject to law, but it doesn't explicitly protect the privacy of communications. This leaves a loophole for laws that restrict the right to privacy to be passed without proper checks and balances.

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 legitimizes the state's activities to snoop into digital communications of citizens, retain personal data for up to one year, and share it with foreign governments and agencies. This poses a serious threat to the right to privacy.

Phone calls are routinely tapped in Pakistan, with over 7,000 phone lines being monitored every month. The government has also implemented a mass digital surveillance program in Islamabad, installing over 1,800 high-powered cameras with facial recognition features.

The Lawful Intercept Management System (LIMS) and the Web Monitoring System 2.0 (WMS) are two surveillance technologies allegedly used by Pakistani authorities to monitor digital communications and internet access nationwide. LIMS can tap calls and intercept text messages, while WMS inspects internet traffic in real time and can block access to websites and social media platforms.

These systems pose a significant threat to online privacy and freedom of expression.

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User Rights Violations are a serious concern in the era of surveillance and privacy.

The right to be forgotten is a fundamental right that allows individuals to request the removal of personal data from online platforms. This right was established by the European Court of Justice in 2014.

The lack of transparency in data collection and use can lead to user rights violations. For example, the article highlights how companies like Google and Facebook collect and use user data without explicit consent.

The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) sets out strict rules for data collection and use, including the right to data portability. This means that users have the right to request their personal data from companies and transfer it to other service providers.

The consequences of user rights violations can be severe, including financial penalties and reputational damage. In 2020, a company was fined $1.2 million for violating the GDPR.

The lack of accountability in data collection and use can lead to user rights violations. Companies often fail to report data breaches and other incidents that compromise user data.

The right to data protection is a fundamental right that is essential for maintaining trust in online services.

We collected network measurements from 22 local networks in Pakistan to measure internet censorship. These measurements were used to identify blocked websites and understand how they were being blocked.

The measurements showed that ISPs in Pakistan blocked 210 websites over the last three years. We were able to find all of these blocked websites.

We used two methods to identify blocked websites: DNS tampering and HTTP transparent proxies. The measurements showed that ISPs used both methods to block websites.

Many block pages were only served for specific web pages hosted on HTTP, rather than for entire services. This could potentially lead to certain political and/or social costs.

We didn't find any sites hosted on HTTPS to be blocked in the country throughout the testing period. This is likely because many of the blocked URLs now support HTTPS.

Our data suggests that censorship in Pakistan is mostly limited to pornography and sites hosting religious content considered blasphemous and political dissent.

The Baluchis, an ethnic minority in Pakistan, have been waging a guerilla war against the government since 1948, demanding political autonomy and control over their natural resources.

Many Baluch activists, teachers, journalists, and lawyers have disappeared or been murdered in "kill and dump" operations by authorities.

The Baluch nationalists have been using various websites to spread their message, but these sites have been blocked by Pakistani ISPs.

Here's a list of some of the blocked Baluch sites:

The blocking of these sites suggests that Pakistani ISPs might be blocking Baluch sites almost indiscriminately, even including a site that currently serves as a resource for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and online marketing.

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