Internet slowdown

The nation is reeling under the aftermath of Internet slowdown, and is clueless to the core as to what's up for them! This is apparently owing to a policy decision to put the social media under the scanner, which quite for some time has been uncontrollable and has generated a narrative that is in collusion with the government's official rejoinder. Thus, the disruption is at hand as the government has reportedly increased surveillance aimed at 'enhancing security' and is installing a firewall imported from China. With a decreased speed of 30-40%, consumers say they are almost at a standstill in conducting online activities, including that of e-commerce and tele-branding - something that has cost the exchequer a startling Rs500 million.

The question is: why is such a torturous route taken, and will it be possible to mold the mindset of netizens? The simple answer is 'No', and the path is surely costing the country in terms of reputation in the avenues of freedom of speech and expression, and taking away e-business at a time when the chips are down economically. Unreliable connectivity is a threat to national and economic security and should be revisited.

It is not known as to how long will the reported testing of an Internet firewall to rein in social media with filters be fully functional, and what will be the criterion of the telecommunication authorities to block "unwanted content". This policy ambiguity is irking several international social media platforms, and is unnecessarily bringing a bad name to the country.

Pakistan is in need of viable and robust telecommunication fora. There are already so many legal valves to screen the content, coupled with libel laws, and this makes it an extra burden to put in a firewall that comes to halt progression. The country's telecom sector has several foreign stakes, and cannot be scuttled arbitrarily. It's time to look at the issue beyond the prism of political bias and let the nation be entrusted with a sturdy internet and its accessories. It will boil down to positivity in the long run.