Largest number of blocks performed on Facebook, TikTok; content against “decency and morality” shows the largest share
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has informed the Lahore High Court that it has blocked more than 1.4 million web links and URLs in its ongoing drive against “illegal online content” amid growing concerns over coordinated social media campaigns targeting state institutions, including the supreme judiciary.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) had on Thursday ordered the PTA to approach Facebook, X and other social media platforms to ensure removal of defamatory and contemptuous content directed at judges, observing that legal action can be taken in Pakistan even if such material was created and shared from abroad. Justice Ali Zia Bajwa had issued the directions while hearing a petition filed against an alleged smear campaign on social media against judges.
The PTA had submitted a report to the court, according to which more than a million links were reviewed and blocked across major social media platforms for containing “illegal online content”, with the largest number of blocks carried out on Facebook and TikTok.
According to the report, the PTA reviewed 229,000 Facebook links, blocking about 197,000, or nearly 86%. TikTok faced the most stringent enforcement measures with more than 174,000 links reviewed and over 163,000 blocked, representing a 94% block rate.
On Instagram, 38,000 out of 43,000 reported URLs were blocked for a blocking rate of 87%.
On YouTube, authorities reviewed 72,000 links and blocked more than 64,000. Meanwhile, over 112,000 links were examined on X, with 70,800 links blocked, recording the lowest block rate of 62%. On other various digital platforms, 891,000 out of 898,000 links reviewed were blocked, reflecting an almost total enforcement of 99%.
The report said the blocked content covered a wide range of categories, including contempt of court, obscenity, hate speech, religious offences, proxy services and material deemed against the state.
Content against “decency and morality” accounted for the largest share, with over 1.06 million. links blocked. Another 148,000 links were removed for content deemed “against the security and defense of Pakistan”. More than 109,000 links containing anti-religious material were also blocked, along with over 76,000 links related to sectarian and hateful content.
The lowest blocking rate was recorded for content involving defamation and false identities at 56.7%, the report noted.
