July 4, 2024
By Muhammad Junaid
Amid increasing public fears about stricter state control and regulation of online content, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) recently proposed a new regulatory framework. This framework requires all Over-The-Top (OTT) services, including YouTube, Netflix, WhatsApp, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), to register locally for a period of 15 years.
This move comes amid reports of the state planning to install a comprehensive firewall to monitor and restrict internet traffic, akin to the Great Firewall of China. There are also growing concerns about the surveillance of government officials and judges.
Mass surveillance
Telecom companies operating in Pakistan have been implicated in a mass surveillance system that intercepts data and records of telecom customers without any regulatory oversight or legal procedures, acting on the orders of the PTA. This information was revealed in a recent Islamabad High Court order concerning the surveillance of citizens, where private phone conversations were recorded and released on the social media.
In the lead-up to the February 8 general election, several audio clips, including those of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse were leaked, prompting them to seek legal recourse.
The judgment, authored by Justice Babar Sattar, disclosed that telecom companies were instructed to finance, import, and install the Lawful Intercept Management System (LIMS) at a designated surveillance centre for use by unnamed agencies. From this centre, agencies could initiate track and trace requests for any SIM, IMEI number, or MSISDN identity through the LIMS, which automatically connected to the telecom networks, raising significant concerns about privacy and the lack of transparency.
How does a firewall work?
Reports have emerged that Pakistan plans to implement a national firewall, joining countries such as China, Iran, Turkey, and Russia in regulating internet content.
The firewall is likely to include a ‘Deep Packet Inspection’ capability, allowing authorities to scrutinise and potentially censor internet traffic based on its content. Keyword filtering will be used to identify and block content deemed undesirable by the government, potentially including blasphemy, hate speech, or content critical of the state.
The government also plans to regulate Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which some users have employed to bypass restrictions on X.
This move represents a significant step towards tighter control over online communication within the country.
Can firewalls decrypt WhatsApp messages?
According to Sadaf Khan, co-founder of Media Matters for Democracy, there is uncertainty about the type of firewall Pakistan plans to implement.
“From my understanding, the firewall they [the state] plan to use will operate through internet service providers to monitor data. However, on a network level, firewalls generally cannot disrupt WhatsApp messages; this isn’t even the case in China. It’s possible to block specific applications, such as WhatsApp calls as in Dubai, but that’s a different issue,” she explained.
She added that firewalls are not impervious to breaches – “Even in China, many YouTubers manage to access the platform despite firewall restrictions.”
A long history of internet disruptions
Internet users often experience mobile network disruptions, social media platform outages, and slow internet speeds, particularly during times of political unrest. These unexplained disruptions have become a major concern, raising doubts about the rule of law and hindering Pakistan’s digital economy ambitions.
In May 2023, internet users in Pakistan faced a four-day blackout following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Access to social media applications has been blocked more than six times over the past year. In January 2024, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram were inaccessible on at least three separate occasions.
Since February, X has remained blocked in Pakistan despite repeated calls for its restoration
Pakistan ranks third globally in imposing nationwide internet restrictions, with each measure enacted without warning or explanation from the PTA.
Impact on economy
According to the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), a 24-hour suspension of internet services results in a financial setback of 1.3 billion rupees ($15.6 million), equivalent to a significant 0.57 percent of the nation’s average daily gross domestic product.
As the third-largest base of freelance workers globally, frequent disruptions risk halting years of progress and undermining confidence among international clients.
Pakistan government’s actions to curb the digital space raise significant concerns about freedom of expression, access to information, and the integrity of democratic processes in the digital age.