A nation-scale disruption of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, is being reported by users and internet watchdogs in Pakistan.
FOE Link or motive by PPF
ConfirmedCase Update Status
The platform later on the same day started working
Summary of Case
"Express Tribune: On February 10, 2024, a nation-scale disruption of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, is being reported by users and internet watchdogs in Pakistan on Saturday. NetBlocks, a global internet watchdog, said the incident comes “amid political turmoil after a controversial election held under an internet and mobile network blackout”. Pakistan on Thursday witnessed a countrywide shutdown of internet and cellular phone services during the polling process with the authorities attributing the move “to maintain law and order” in the wake of the violence that occurred a day earlier. However, the suspension was denounced by Amnesty International, which described it as a “reckless attack on people’s rights”, as well as experts and political stakeholders, particularly the PTI, a political party that relied heavily on social media platforms for its electoral campaign. In the run-up to the February 8 elections in Pakistan, the country suffered from multiple internet disruptions and slow-downs. The interim government justified the disruptions as ‘technical glitches’. Just earlier today, the Foreign Office denied that there was any wide-scale internet disruption on polling day. It must be noted that all internet shutdowns have coincided with virtual events organised by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Category of Incident
Censorship
ICCS Status
ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression
ICCS Group: 08039-Other acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression
ICCS Class: 08039-Other acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression
ICCS Crime: Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression
Reported By
Pakistan Today
Date of incident
8
Month
February
Year
2024
Name of affected person
All social media users
Other affected persons
Countrywide
Name of affected organization
Countrywide
Other affected organizations
Countrywide
Action by
Not confirmed, however, PTA is responsible for blocking social media.
City
Countrywide
Province
Countrywide
Designation
All social media users
Professional category
All social media users
Age of victim
N/A
Marital Status
N/ACompensation Details
Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation was announced
Date of compensation announcement by government:
Date of compensation paid by government:
Amount of compensation announced by others:
Date of compensation announced by others:
Date compensation paid by others:
FIR Details
Was FIR registered ?: No
Court Details
Was case investigated ?: No
Court where case was presented:
Name of prosecuting lawyer:
Date of first court hearing:
Date of last court hearing:
Status of court case:
Journalist Union Status
PFUJ
No version was recorded
APNS
CPNE
PBA
Condemn Status
Colleague of victim
Not Condemned
Employer organization
Press Club Status
Press club 1: No version was recorded
Press club 2:
Press club 3: