Tag: firewall
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Khan’s government was the first to recommend a firewall in 2020
The decision to implement a firewall system was taken by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government in a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on October 22, 2020, Samaa has reported. A letter to the Secretary of Information Technology (IT) revealed that the government was preparing to install a national firewall system and make a…
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‘Please do something,’ students push Hamid Mir to file petition against internet disruption
The month of August has been the worst for the digital space in Pakistan since February 2024. The tech industry has expressed serious concerns about the internet slowdown, warning that it could cost the debt-ridden nation up to $300 million. Amid the ongoing issues, senior journalist Hamid Mir took the matter to the Islamabad High…
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Multinational companies plan to leave Pakistan as internet disruptions continue, says PBC
The Pakistan Business Council (PBC) warned on Friday that numerous multinational companies are planning to relocate their offices from Pakistan, with many having already left the country, due to severe internet disruptions. “Many multinational companies (MNCs) are either planning to relocate their back offices from Pakistan or have already done so, as the reported imposition…
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Hina Bayat is done with internet shutdowns
Since the past few days internet outages have become a serious problem in Pakistan, negatively affecting daily life and business. Actress Hina Bayat posted a video on instagram with the caption “Aapko Khuda ka waasta humari qaum per reham karain 🙏”. The star went on to say, “On one hand, we cry about our deteriorating…
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No, Khawaja Asif, there are no global firewalls to restrain social media
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that safety firewalls are being implemented to ensure checks and balances on uncontrolled social media sites. He made this statement during his appearance on the talk show ‘Faisla Aap Ka’ with journalist Asma Sherazi. ‘’Everything will be fine after some days,’’ he said. Khawaja Asif added that developed, democratic…
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‘It’s not possible’; Reporting in internet-challenged Pakistan
With the primary shift from newspapers to television channels and now to digital media applications, the dissemination of information has become increasingly competitive for newsrooms, with the latest updates just a click away. “Delays can be managed with newspapers, but today everything is in your hands—specifically, mobile phones,” says Raees Ansari, Bureau Chief of Geo…
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Social media apps including WhatsApp experiencing slowdowns yet again
Users across various cities in Pakistan are dealing with drastically slow internet. Reports indicate that messaging apps like WhatsApp are also facing slowdowns. People are encountering issues with messages not being downloaded on WhatsApp. Geo news reports that according to Down Detector, a website that monitors social media app performance, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram are…
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Turkey blocks access to Instagram
Many users living in Turkey complained on the X platform that they could not refresh their Instagram feed, an issue verified by AFP journalists. On Friday, the BTK communications authority announced on its website that the Meta-owned platform had been blocked. It did not give a reason, but a BTK official told Turkish media that…
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What is the story behind the recent WhatsApp disruption in Pakistan?
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has downplayed the ongoing issues with WhatsApp services being faced by users in Pakistan, attributing it to a possible “technical glitch”, Geo News has reported. Problems arose a few days ago when users reported difficulty in sending and receiving media files, such as voice notes, photos, and videos, on WhatsApp using…
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What is ‘Firewall’, and how does it threaten freedom of expression?
Since the beginning of 2024, there has been an increase in the targeted killing of journalists in Pakistan, where eight journalists have lost their lives so far. Four journalists were killed in May alone, which, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), is the highest number of journalists killed in a single month since…