ISLAMABAD – Internet censorship remains in limelight in Pakistan as the government implemented cybersecurity upgrade, dubbed Web Monitoring System to curb the menace of disinformation.
A report shared by a local news channel quoting cabinet division minister said National Assembly recently learned that PTA is using Web Monitoring System (WMS) to restrict online applications and websites in the country.
Under the new mechanism, the national telecom authority moved to block web applications in line with PECA Act 2016. While the PTA also sends requests to companies like Apple and Google for content removal, it uses the WMS for internet content management.
So far, over 450 mobile applications have been blocked for several reasons, including content deemed offensive to religion, shady activities, and other reasons.
Internet censorship in Pakistan
Leading social media platform X has been blocked in Pakistan since February 17, while WhatsApp, Facebook and other portals also remain disrupted to millions.
As frustrated people are looking for clear answers, the government tried to keep the who scenario under the wrap and Web Monitoring System was essential for combating cyber security threats.
The report of private channel mentioned that Pakistan got web monitoring system from a foreign country and it was upgraded last year, causing national internet slowdowns and outages.
The contentious monitoring system uses Deep Packet Inspection to block VPN traffic and allows for government monitoring of internet traffic.
The cabinet division minister admitted that despite PTA’s efforts to block content at the gateway level, users can still access blocked content via VPNs, which bypass the state’s restrictions.
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