WhatsApp services have been down for thousands of users in Pakistan for the past three days.
Social media users have reported issues with sharing voice notes and media files, including pictures and videos. Similar problems have been noted with Instagram as well
After the disruption, people took to social media, blaming the new firewall and demanding answers from the government.
This isn't a WhatsApp issue; it's a Pakistan-specific problem. The non transparency about why the internet, especially WhatsApp, slows down every few days is something the government needs to explain to its citizens. This goes against the goals of the Digital Pakistan initiative. pic.twitter.com/jheJK4hf47
— Nighat Dad (@nighatdad) August 10, 2024
While the Internet has been slow for the last several days in Pakistan due to the testing of the Internet Security Network System 'Firewall', on August 10, users across Pakistan complained about the slow speed of WhatsApp and Instagram.
— Information of Pakistan (@Ahmadcheema482) August 11, 2024
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Earlier, it was reported that the government had accelerated its work on a framework to regulate over-the-top (OTT) services, moving closer to what has been dubbed the “Great Firewall of Pakistan.”
Under this new framework, platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook would be required to obtain licenses and authorisations. The framework would also extend to regulating Twitter, LinkedIn, and e-commerce platforms, with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) jointly overseeing digital media services.
