X banned in Pakistan due to compliance issues

By: Communicators – Business Team (July 11, 2024) 

It was announced by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar during a Senate meeting that Pakistan’s caretaker government has banned the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) due to “compliance issues,”. This decision is part of a broader concern among some senators, especially from the ruling party, about the proliferation of fake news and misinformation on social media.

In the Senate’s information committee meeting, Senator Ali Zafar, the committee chair, posed a question regarding the ban. Mr. Tarar explained the reasons and mentioned that the Ministry of Interior has submitted a response to the high court, which will ultimately decide the platform’s future in Pakistan.

Senator Zafar emphasized that freedom of expression is a fundamental right for all citizens. However, Senator Irfan Siddiqui called for measures to prevent the “misuse of freedom of expression,” while Senator Jam Muhammad suggested developing a strategy to tackle disinformation and fake news. He argued that social media platforms should align with national interests.

Former information minister Pervez Rasheed expressed concerns about the spread of propaganda and offensive language on social media. The minister also highlighted issues related to the rise of digital crimes, particularly deepfakes, and the lack of tools to combat them. He urged officials to take action to address these challenges.