The federal government has decided to implement advanced firewalls sourced from China to regulate social media content and block unwanted material from reaching a broader audience, according to sources cited by ProPakistani.
Both the federal government and local ISPs will share the costs of these firewalls. The government will cover part of the expenses, while ISPs will pay the remaining fees. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has mandated that ISPs block illegal content as per the terms of their operating licenses.
The firewalls, equipped with deep packet inspection (DPI) technology, will be installed by local internet service providers (ISPs). This decision followed extensive discussions between the PTA, IT Ministry officials, and local ISPs. Despite some resistance from the ISPs, the PTA remained firm on the decision.
The new system will be capable of blocking online content at the IP level, bypassing mobile apps.
PTA will oversee the installation and operation of these firewalls, ensuring they are effectively used to prevent the spread of illegal content and maintain national security.
Sources indicated that these firewalls will critically analyze data application layers up to the 7-Layer OSI model. This level of control will allow the government to identify and block specific propaganda points and IDs on social media platforms.
