After the suspension of social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, netizens in Pakistan fear of alleged ban on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
As the unannounced suspension of X continued for a fifth consecutive day in the country on Thursday, users in Pakistan are using VPNs to have access to social media platforms.
As the suspension of X services massively hits the country’s cyberspace, no government authority has yet cleared the matter and taken responsibility for the suspension.
According to some users, VPNs are also facing suspension in the country as they failed to use it.
READ MORE: X (Twitter) down in Pakistan
However, there are not any confirmed details regarding the suspension of VPNs in Pakistan.
On the military’s orders, PTA and the Pakistani government has started to block VPNs!!
We’re heading towards a full-blown totalitarian state. pic.twitter.com/UOIDUEiXAA
— Wesᴛ Cᴏᴀsᴛ Aᴠᴇɴɢᴇʀ ♠ (@WarriorWCA) February 21, 2024
X users showed dissatisfaction regarding the ban on social media platforms and fear that VPNs may also come under the ban radar and the government won’t say anything as they lack legitimacy.
So we have just accepted the fact that twitter will be banned and VPNs will be blocked as best as they can, the forming govt won’t say anything about it because they simply can’t as they don’t have an ounce legitamacy, and PTI has gone on to use the Ahmedi card to put pressure on…
— Twitt.Arhum (@arhuml92) February 22, 2024
Another user shared news from local media claiming that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has directed all Internet Service Providers (ISP) to prevent Internet users from using technology that would allow them to privately browse the Internet.
Breaking News.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority ban Twitter from 5 days in Pakistan and people connect VPN to run Twitter.
Now PTA are going to ban VPN, so that Pakistani people don’t use Twitter.#TwitterDown #PakistanUnderFacism #پاکستان_ڈاکو_موومنٹ #BobbiAlthoff pic.twitter.com/Z5axlbkD5c
— Sohaib Mohmand (@sohaibmohmand4) February 22, 2024
In a recent development, the Sindh High Court Wednesday directed the relevant authorities to restore micro-blogging platform X across the country. Even after the high court’s judgment, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and other incumbent authorities failed to ensure uninterrupted access to X across Pakistan.
The disruption started on Saturday after former Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chattha in a press conference admitted rigging in the February 8 polls, which took the social media platform by storm.
Global internet monitor Netblocks reported that ‘X’ had been restricted in Pakistan for 24 hours and called it “the latest and longest in a series of nation-scale internet censorship measures imposed by authorities as reports of election fraud emerge”.
