Arrr! Pakistan be restrictin' the interwebs on election day, me hearties! Set sail fer offline adventures, ye scallywags!
2024-02-08
Yarrr, them wise folk be sayin' that not even a VPN can sort out this ruckus! Arrr, me hearties in Pakistan, reckon ye be needin' to keep an eye out as ye set sail to cast yer votes!
Pakistan's internet was shut down during a parliamentary election, causing disruptions and hindering the voting process. The government claimed that the online disruptions were necessary for security reasons following terrorist attacks. However, experts criticized the decision, calling it a disproportionate action that undermines democracy. Even the best VPN services were unable to bypass the internet shutdown, leaving voters negatively impacted.NetBlocks, a UK-based internet watchdog, reported disruptions to Pakistan's mobile internet and fixed internet blackouts across multiple regions. VPNs, which can bypass censorship measures, were rendered ineffective in this case. As a result, citizens lacked access to essential information for voting and were unable to communicate effectively.
This is not the first time Pakistan has experienced an internet blackout during elections. Previous incidents targeted political opposition, and citizens were able to use VPN apps to access the internet. VPN providers confirmed an increase in users within the country in recent months.
Digital rights advocates and internet experts warn that such measures hinder the democratic process and make it difficult to track and report voting irregularities. They are calling for the immediate restoration of internet access in Pakistan to ensure a free and fair election.