Digital rights activists, and opposition parties accuse the Pakistani government of intentionally slowing down internet speeds by up to 40% and implementing a national firewall for increased surveillance, content regulation, and censorship, potentially targeting encrypted platforms like WhatsApp.
The Pakistani government denies involvement in internet disruptions, attributing the disruptions to excessive VPN usage and measures to prevent harmful content.
Experts believe the internet slowdown is a result of the state installing A firewall for political censorship and control over online spaces, risking compromising citizens' fundamental rights and creating distrust among IT investors.
According to Pakistani news site The Current students are pushing journalist Hamid Mir to file a petition against the internet disruption.
Sources: South China Morning Post, Hürriyet Daily News, Economic Times, Bobr Times, Head Topics, Minute Mirror, ARY News, Malay Mail, OpIndia, Saudi Gazette, Aaj News, MM News, Free Press Journal, Midi Libre, The Current, Khaleej Times, Business Recorder, Adnkronos, The Business Times, L'Opinion.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
