Experts warn against internet shutdowns

Suspension of services results in financial losses, disruptions, lament industry leaders

KARACHI:

According to Information Technology (IT) experts, the government should explore viable alternatives rather than resorting to suspending mobile phone broadband and data services. They argue that such suspensions not only disrupt entire IT services but also inflict major financial losses on IT businesses, impacting both public and private organisations, as well as the general public in the country.

IT-related businesses encompass numerous services, including those provided by the IT sector, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), commercial banks, and their respective apps, e-stores, and more. People heavily rely on mobile phone or digital apps for payments and various e-services, such as InDrive, Yango, Bykea, FoodPanda, Daraz, aimed at saving time.

“We need to enhance IT exports, and human resources are crucial for this endeavor. The human resource works in the country for providing services to foreign clients. Internet disruption impacts IT services, and foreign clients hire services from neighbouring countries because of disruptions of Net services here,” lamented Saquib Ahmad, SAP Managing Director in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Ahmad further highlighted the prevalence of apps like JazzCash and Easypaisa in rural areas, stressing their significance for financial transactions. He also pointed out the challenges faced in maintaining personal and social connections, particularly with family members abroad, when services like WhatsApp are affected.

The increasing reliance on cloud solutions significantly impacts supply chains and end-consumer businesses. When mobile phone broadband services are suspended, users shift to ISP’s internet services, overwhelming and slowing them down.

Read Internet watchdog reports nation-scale disruption of social media

“We need alternative solutions to internet suspensions. National security is paramount, but we must embrace modern technology solutions while prioritising lawful interception methods,” he urged.

Founder and CEO of Icreativez Technologies, and leading SEO expert in the country, Mehboob Shar reiterated the importance of uninterrupted internet services for businesses, especially in fields like digital marketing. He unscored that internet disruptions lead to nearly 100% losses in digital marketing, as various tools like SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), social media, content, email, and PPC (pay per click/ Google ads) depend entirely on internet connectivity. Businesses reliant on these tools come to a complete standstill when internet connectivity is disrupted.

“Because of poor or dysfunctional internet services, foreign clients who hire our services lose trust in us. We also face a 20-30% loss in terms of poor reputation in front of foreign clients. There is no other solution except for fast and uninterrupted Net services as SEO and digital marketing fields call for 100% and 24/7 active internet connectivity,” he concluded.

Last week, Amnesty International, along with a coalition of human rights activists and civil society organisations, called for the immediate restoration of social media platform X (formerly Twitter), blocked in the country since February 17.

X has been inaccessible since former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Chattha resigned over what he said was alleged “election rigging” in the Rawalpindi division.

The platform ban came after the blockage of mobile phone services on election day – February 8.

“The arbitrary blocking of platforms, including the prolonged and unannounced disruption of “X” (formerly known as Twitter) since 17 February 2024, is a sobering illustration of growing digital censorship in the country,” said the statement.

The human rights organisation also criticised the “complete silence of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)” and termed it extremely alarming as the authority failed to furnish any reasons for the ban and “exceeded its mandate to block an entire internet platform”.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2024.

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