The Pakistani government has successfully completed a trial run of a social media firewall, according to Aaj News, citing sources within the Ministry of Interior.
Following the trial, WhatsApp and Facebook returned to normal functionality. The firewall effectively blocked the downloading of images, voice recordings, and videos on these platforms as a part of the test.
Earlier, netizens experienced slow mobile internet speeds across the country, with the majority of complaints relating to connection issues with Facebook. Reports surfaced regarding WhatsApp voice, picture, and video message loading problems as well as message failures.
It was further revealed that the firewall also slowed down mobile signals and internet service. The trial was conducted specifically on mobile data.
Following the Ministry of Interior’s instructions, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) communicated with all mobile companies regarding the firewall’s implementation through an email. With the trial deemed successful, the government plans to proceed with the purchase of the firewall, and a tender has already been issued for its procurement.