Still blocked

Around two months ago, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) claimed that the internet slowdowns and disruptions that have plagued the country throughout the year would end in October. The issue was attributed to a fault in the undersea cable, an excuse Pakistanis are by now all too familiar with and mostly do not buy. After all, the internet slowdowns and disruptions had been going on for months before this reason was given, so a faulty cable was likely not the only problem. This beginning-of-October deadline came and went without much discernible improvement. In fact, many across the country experienced internet disruptions on October 4 amidst a PTI protest in Islamabad. Then, the authorities claimed that things would get better by the end of October. Digital experts were immediately sceptical of this new target, given that it appeared to have been made without any concrete actions in mind. It has now been over a week since the latest deadline the government set for itself elapsed. Not much appears to have changed. Many experts and business figures have pointed to government efforts to monitor internet traffic, including an alleged ‘firewall’, as the real root of the problem. While the government has acknowledged updating its ‘Web Management System’ to cope with cyber security threats, it has denied slowing down the internet. The National Assembly has also been told that the PTA has deployed a Web Monitoring System for internet content management, including blocking unlawful websites and applications.

While it has been some time since the last widespread disruption or blackout, X (formerly Twitter) mostly remains inaccessible without a VPN and there does not seem to have been any noticeable improvement in the slow internet speeds. As such, it only appears to be a matter of time until the next widespread disruption coincides with some political protest lands. The most disturbing part about the latest missed deadline might be how little it has been remarked upon. Both civil society and the people at large appear to have become inured to the fact that full access to major social media sites might well be suspended for the long run.

While solving the problem of fake news and online misinformation is certainly important, it cannot come at the cost of disrupting access to platforms that millions rely on to communicate, obtain news, organise and simply live their lives. Pakistan needs robust and reliable internet access as much as it needs a good and affordable energy supply. This is the 21st century and the right to digital access is no less crucial for national success and stability than any other fundamental right. Sadly, history shows that fundamental rights are something most Pakistani leaders and bureaucrats feel like they can put on the backburner, at best. In some cases, they act as though rights are actually an impediment to their ability to do their jobs properly. This was evident in the IT minister blaming the use of VPNs for the internet slowdown back in August, essentially pinning the problem on those trying to reclaim their digital rights. The government must realise that the longer proper internet access is delayed, legitimate businesses, opinions and online activity will suffer as much, if not more, than purveyors of fake news and propaganda. The ultimate loser will be the country.