Illegal content: PTA blocks 1m sites

Pakistan has blocked more than one million web links and URLs over the spread of illegal and inappropriate digital content, particularly material involving character assassination of judges of the superior judiciary on social media, according to a comprehensive report released by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

The report lays bare the scale of digital enforcement undertaken by the regulator across major social media platforms, showing extensive monitoring, review and blocking of content deemed unlawful, objectionable or harmful to public order, morality and state institutions.

According to the PTA, Facebook and TikTok faced the highest levels of blocking for hosting unlawful and objectionable content. TikTok recorded the strictest crackdown, with 94 percent of identified content blocked, which is the highest enforcement rate among all platforms reviewed.

The report states that 229,000 Facebook links were reviewed, out of which 197,000 were blocked. On Instagram, 43,000 URLs were examined, and 38,000 were blocked, resulting in a blocking rate of 87 per cent.

On TikTok, the authority reviewed more than 174,000 links related to illegal content and blocked over 163,000 video links, marking the most aggressive enforcement action across platforms.

The report further notes that YouTube underwent scrutiny of 72,000 links, with more than 64,000 links blocked. On X (formerly Twitter), over 112,000 links were checked, but only 70,800 were blocked, making it the platform with the lowest blocking rate at 62 per cent.

Additionally, on other digital platforms, 898,000 links were reviewed, of which 891,000 were blocked, reflecting near-total enforcement action.

Overall, the PTA disclosed that more than 1.4 million links and URLs were blocked for content related to contempt of court, obscenity, religious offences, proxy usage and hate speech. Obscenity and morality-related material topped the list, with over 1.06 million links blocked.

Content against the state and national defence accounted for 148,000 blocked links, while over 109,000 links were restricted for anti-religious content.

Furthermore, 76,000 links containing sectarian and hate material were blocked, while defamation and fake identity-related content recorded the lowest blocking rate.

The PTA said the crackdown was aimed at curbing cybercrime, protecting judicial institutions and preventing the spread of unlawful and harmful digital material across social media platforms.