The internet in Pakistan has slowed to a crawl in recent weeks, sparking fears among citizens and businesses of increased government surveillance and control. The disruptions have affected millions of users nationwide, with internet speeds reportedly dropping to half their usual rates. Shafi Naeem, a freelance software designer based in Karachi, says the slowdowns have devastated his business.
He estimates he has already lost more than half of his roughly $4,000 monthly income due to the disruptions. “Our work depends on fast, reliable internet,” Naeem said. The Pakistan Software Houses Association, representing software companies nationwide, has condemned the “grave consequences of the hastily implemented national firewall.” The organization warns that Pakistan’s economy could lose up to $300 million because of the disruptions.
Digital researchers and analysts suggest the slowdown is a sign that Pakistani authorities are experimenting with new technologies to crush dissent. However, the government maintains no new surveillance measures and attributes the disruptions to technical issues.
Internet disruptions spark surveillance concerns
A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court against the nationwide internet shutdowns. The Chief Justice has sought responses from the government and the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) by August 26. At a press conference, the state minister for IT, Shazia Fatima, attributed the slowdown to a surge in Virtual Private Network (VPN) usage affecting Content Delivery Networks (CDN).
However, she did not address why the need for VPNs arose in the first place. Industry sources hint at “gateway-level deployment at the two largest CDN providers… to control and monitor internet traffic in Pakistan.” Since content on global platforms cannot be removed directly, the ability to block and restrict access is being enhanced. Jurre Van Bergen, Technologist at Amnesty International, commented: “The opacity of the Pakistani authorities regarding monitoring and surveillance technologies that block content, slow down, and control internet speeds is an alarming concern.
The use of such technologies, including national firewalls, has repeatedly proven to undermine online freedom of expression and access to information.
As Pakistan grapples with these internet slowdowns, fears of widespread surveillance and government control of digital spaces are only intensifying. The damage to individuals and businesses is significant. Pakistan is viewed as an unstable, unviable market where investment is risky, and there are no service or data privacy guarantees.
April Isaacs is a news contributor for DevX.com She is long-term, self-proclaimed nerd. She loves all things tech and computers and still has her first Dreamcast system. It is lovingly named Joni, after Joni Mitchell.
