Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has officially announced its plans to “enhance” its Web Monitoring System (WMS), a move that is confirmed to cause even more internet disruptions ahead of the looming general elections.
The WMS, a surveillance infrastructure designed to monitor internet traffic, leverages Deep Packet Inspection technology. This system grants PTA the capability to exercise gateway-level control over internet access, including the ability to implement blocking and censorship measures. It was purchased from the Canadian firm Sandvine in 2019 for around $18 million.
Inquiries were made to the PTA by Geo Fact Check regarding the timing of the ongoing upgrade, which suspiciously coincides with the upcoming national elections. The consequential internet disruptions would hinder Pakistani voters’ access to vital election-related information.
The spokesperson claimed that the WMS deployment had been in progress since December 2023. The official alleged:
It is the requirement for complying with various court orders related to objectionable internet content including blasphemous content under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016.
On the 22nd of January, Ahmed Shamim Pirzada, the Director General of the government-owned PTA, addressed the media about the recent nationwide episodes of internet slowdown. According to Pirzada, these disruptions were attributed to “technical glitches” stemming from the ongoing software update being undertaken by the PTA.
However, Usama Khilji, a prominent digital rights activist, has voiced his concerns regarding the response from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), deeming it “inconsistent” and marked by contradictions.
Khilji asked:
First, the PTA says that the deployment [of the WMS] is happening on the internet submarine cable but then it blames telecom operators, so which is it? Under the WMS, the telecom operators have no say. It is the PTA that directly blocks content through the internet cable and has complete control.
He also brought up how these internet disruptions were only happening during online events organized by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Furthermore, Khilji pointed out that the PTA had ample opportunities to carry out the WMS upgrade during the tenure of the coalition government, which spanned from April 2022 to August 2023, or during the transitional phase when the caretaker government assumed control in August.
عوام کے ساتھ ساتھ انٹرنیٹ کا بھی گلہ دبا رہے ہیں
These generals are so scared of common people that after disqualifying ghe most popular political party they want internet blackout on election day so that election can be stolen.
Hahah what a joke
It was bought in 2019 and is only now being deployed?
Full rigging ke tiyari by Establishment and un-care government in 8-01-2024 general elections