Government Announces Upgraded Web Management System for Enhanced Online Regulation
The government has officially confirmed the rollout of an advanced Web Management System (WMS) aimed at improving the regulation and oversight of online content in Pakistan.
Upgraded by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the new system autonomously monitors, detects, and blocks websites and mobile applications involved in illegal activities, data breaches, or disseminating harmful and offensive content targeting national institutions.
The Cabinet Division has informed the National Assembly about the installation and activation of the WMS. According to the division’s report, the PTA has already blocked 2,369 URLs and 183 mobile applications that violate legal and procedural standards for internet use.
This enhanced WMS functionality allows the PTA to independently block harmful content, significantly increasing the system’s efficiency and responsiveness. The integration of advanced Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) capabilities enables the WMS to control and monitor internet traffic at a gateway level. This technology aids in identifying and blocking content that could threaten national security or spread misinformation against government entities.
The system is designed to prevent the publication of obscene and hateful material online, ensuring that hostile activities do not undermine state integrity and security.
PTA Outlines Purpose and Process of Cybersecurity Audit
Internet Slowdown Update
In a related development, the PTA has addressed the recent slowdown in internet services across Pakistan. The authority attributed the disruption to damage sustained by several international submarine cables.
Of the seven submarine cables connecting Pakistan to global internet networks, two have suffered significant damage. While repairs to the AAE-1 cable have been completed and are expected to ease some of the internet issues, the SMW4 cable continues to experience faults. Repairs for the SMW4 cable are projected to be finished by October. Full resolution of the internet issues in Pakistan will depend on the timely repair of this cable.
The PTA had earlier indicated that internet users might face ongoing disruptions beyond the initially anticipated timeframe. With the situation nearing its 21st day of slow internet, officials have suggested that a complete resolution could take additional time.
Clarification on Web Management System
Last week, PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman addressed questions regarding the upgraded web management system. In a detailed statement, he clarified that the current system is an enhanced version of the one introduced during the PTI administration in 2019, not a new firewall system.
During a heated session of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Information Technology, Rehman reassured committee members that the system was not new but an upgrade of the previously approved web management system.
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