Nearly six months have passed since the government abruptly blocked X (formerly Twitter) in Pakistan, a platform used by around four million Pakistanis—approximately 1.7% of the population. The government deemed the social networking app a threat to national security and sovereignty, leading to its sudden and unjustified ban. However, the situation has escalated further. The government is now implementing a firewall to filter content before it reaches the Pakistani internet. While the prevailing narrative suggests that extreme political polarization necessitates such surveillance measures to prevent the nation from descending into chaos, the reality is more complex. Political content may be the convenient scapegoat the government uses to conceal the underlying issues that have brought the country to this point, where the state feels compelled to compromise internet encryption.
This approach directly opposes the fundamental principles of the digital ecosystem. Increased surveillance puts citizens’ sensitive information—such as national IDs and bank details—at greater risk of cyberattacks. In a country where data breaches are already an unfortunate reality, weakening digital security measures will only heighten public fear and unrest.
In recent weeks, ordinary citizens have faced significant challenges as the government tested its firewall framework. Slow internet speeds have hampered remote workers, threatening their reputations in the global market. Even small video clips take minutes to buffer, reminiscent of the early days when internet access in Pakistan was still limited. The government must recognize that the digital age waits for no one, and falling behind could leave the country struggling to keep pace with technological advancements.
For many Pakistanis, digital tools and internet access have been crucial in improving socio-economic conditions. Low-income households have increasingly turned to the digital economy as a means of earning a livelihood. However, the new firewall threatens to disrupt social media platforms that provide income-generating opportunities for content creators, further straining a population already burdened by rising prices and high taxes. While the government has a legitimate role in combating illegal activities in the digital realm, it is essential not to undermine the digital infrastructure in the process. Pakistan faces a critical choice: embrace the digital age or remain mired in outdated policies and governance.
