Social Media Platforms Down in Pakistan

• A high court in Pakistan's Sindh province noted social media management amid a service disruption.
• The disruption started on Feb. 17 after a government official admitted to election manipulation.
• Users have faced sporadic interruptions in social media services since the disruption.

In a significant development, a high court in Pakistan's southern Sindh province made observations on Tuesday suggesting that social media platforms were being "managed" within the country. This statement comes amid a prolonged disruption in the services of various social media platforms and complaints about sluggish internet speeds.

During the hearing of multiple petitions related to the disruption of social media platforms and slow internet in Pakistan, the chief justice of the Sindh High Court (SHC) expressed concerns over the situation. The disruption began with X going down on Feb. 17, shortly after a senior government official publicly admitted to manipulating the results of the Feb. 8 general elections in certain constituencies. Since then, users have encountered sporadic interruptions in X service.

Responding to the petitions, a lawyer representing the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) claimed they lacked the equipment to slow down internet speeds. Meanwhile, the interior and telecom ministries requested additional time to provide their responses.

Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi remarked during the hearing that, "Prima facie, social media is being managed, but who is doing it will also come out." He highlighted the importance of social media as a platform for citizens to express their opinions, especially when conventional media outlets may be constrained for various reasons.

The court issued notices to the PTA chairman and other officials following a petition filed by lawyer Jibran Nasir. Nasir's petition sought contempt of court proceedings against the PTA chief for failing to improve X and internet services. The hearing for this case has been adjourned until March 20.

The disruption in social media services comes in the wake of Pakistan's national elections, which were marred by a mobile internet shutdown on election day and delayed results. This led to widespread allegations of election manipulation.

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Concerns have been raised about the state of democratic freedoms in Pakistan due to the ongoing disruption in social media services. The United States and various international organizations have called on authorities to ensure unrestricted internet access, while leading digital rights activists have condemned the blockade as a "blatant violation" of civil liberties.