Tue Nov 26 18:04:05 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan’s New “Firewall” Slows Internet, Raises Privacy Concerns

**Islamabad, Pakistan** – Pakistan’s government has deployed a new national internet monitoring system, sparking widespread complaints of slowed internet speeds and raising serious concerns about citizen privacy. While officials deny any connection between the system and the performance issues, multiple sources, including senior officials from internet service providers (ISPs) and the country’s security establishment, attribute recent internet slowdowns and disruptions to trials of the new “firewall,” a sophisticated system reportedly purchased from China for $72-107 million.

The system, which began trials in mid-July, allows for granular control over online traffic, enabling authorities to monitor popular apps like WhatsApp and block specific content – a capability previously lacking in Pakistan’s infrastructure. This includes the ability to throttle multimedia features on apps while leaving text messaging unaffected, a technique observed on WhatsApp. The system’s capabilities also extend to blocking VPNs and enhancing real-time monitoring through advanced content filtering. While the government claims the upgrade is necessary for cybersecurity, critics argue it facilitates censorship and surveillance.

The deployment coincides with heightened political tensions, including ongoing protests demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The government has offered various explanations for the internet slowdowns, including faulty submarine cables and excessive VPN use, claims widely refuted by experts and data analysis. Independent research shows that VPN use often improved internet speeds, suggesting the slowdowns are the result of government-imposed throttling.

The new system operates not only at Pakistan’s main internet gateways but also at local data centers, enabling monitoring of local internet traffic. This “in-line” monitoring method, where every data packet is inspected, inevitably slows internet speeds, impacting real-time applications and degrading overall user experience. Experts warn this approach is a deliberate feature, necessary for comprehensive surveillance and censorship.

While the government maintains the system is for combating illegal activity and cybersecurity threats, concerns remain regarding the lack of transparency and potential for abuse. Critics point to the system’s potential impact on Pakistan’s growing IT sector and its ability to attract foreign investment. The secrecy surrounding the project, coupled with the government’s inconsistent statements, fuels these concerns. The use of the term “digital terrorism” by the military to justify the enhanced surveillance has further stoked anxieties over freedom of expression and political dissent. The situation highlights a growing trend of increased internet control in Pakistan, a trend that critics fear will further restrict online freedoms and negatively impact the economy.

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