Facebook and TikTok faced the highest levels of blocking for hosting illegal and objectionable content.
LAHORE:
Pakistan has blocked more than one million web links and URLs for spreading illegal and inappropriate digital content, particularly material involving defamation of judges of the higher judiciary on social media, according to a comprehensive report released by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
The report lays bare the scale of digital law enforcement undertaken by the regulator on major social media platforms, showing extensive monitoring, review and blocking of content deemed illegal, objectionable or detrimental to public order, morality and state institutions.
According to the PTA, Facebook and TikTok faced the highest levels of blocking for hosting illegal 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, of which 197,000 were blocked. On Instagram, 43,000 URLs were examined and 38,000 were blocked, resulting in a block rate of 87 percent.
On TikTok, the authority reviewed more than 174,000 links related to illegal content and blocked more than 163,000 video links, marking the most aggressive enforcement action on all platforms.
The report further notes that YouTube underwent scrutiny of 72,000 links, with more than 64,000 links blocked. On X (formerly Twitter), more than 112,000 links were checked, but only 70,800 were blocked, making it the platform with the lowest blocking rate at 62 percent.
Additionally, 898,000 links were reviewed on other digital platforms, of which 891,000 were blocked, reflecting almost total law enforcement action.
Overall, the PTA revealed that more than 1.4 million links and URLs were blocked for content related to contempt of court, obscenity, religious crimes, use of power and hate speech. Material related to obscenity and morality topped the list, with more than 1.06 million links blocked.
Content against the state and national defense accounted for 148,000 blocked links, while more than 109,000 links were restricted for anti-religious content.
Additionally, 76,000 links containing sectarian and hate material were blocked, while content related to defamation and false identity recorded the lowest blocking rate.
The PTA said the crackdown was aimed at curbing cybercrime, protecting judicial institutions and preventing the spread of illegal and harmful digital material through social media platforms.
