ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been ranked third in the world, after Iran and India, respectively, for internet restrictions in the first half of 2023. This is revealed in a report issued by Surfshark, a virtual private network company headquartered in Lithuania, based on a half-year analysis of internet shutdown monitored by the Internet Shutdown Tracker.The report said that Pakistan imposed restrictions thrice following the arrest of former prime minister on May 9.
At the time, access to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube was restricted in the country, while several temporary cellular network disruptions were also observed across the country for several days.
The focal point of the Surfshark report is Asia where most internet shutdowns were reported during the period. Iran is leading the list of the most internet disruptions, with 14, all of which occurred in Zahedan during Friday protests over the Zahedan massacre. India is ranked two in the list with at least nine cases, the majority of whom occurred during protests. Interestingly, the report mentions two separate internet shutdowns in ‘Jammu and Kashmir’, which were ostensibly also ordered by the Indian government. –Agencies
