The government will reportedly cover the cost of some firewall installations, while ISPs will shoulder the remaining expenses.
ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has partnered with internet service providers (ISPs) to implement a nationwide firewall system for regulating social media content. This move comes amidst concerns about the spread of misinformation and harmful content online.
The firewall will be equipped with deep packet inspection technology, allowing it to analyze data at Layer 7, the application layer, for social media-specific filtering. This advanced capability goes beyond traditional blocking methods that operate at the application level. The system will not only identify sources of problematic content propagation on social media platforms but also possess the ability to block them at the internet protocol (IP) address level, potentially hindering content dissemination.
The government will reportedly cover the cost of some firewall installations, while ISPs will shoulder the remaining expenses. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has justified the initiative by citing existing license clauses that obligate ISPs to take measures against illegal content. However, the Ministry of Information Technology has distanced itself, stating that firewall installation falls under the PTA’s purview.
This development has sparked debate, with some citizens expressing concerns about potential limitations on free speech and internet access. The effectiveness of the firewall in curbing harmful content while preserving online freedoms remains to be seen.
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