VPNs, the tool to bypass this type of restriction, are also a target
Bluesky was just added to the list of blocked social media platforms in Pakistan as people worldwide flock to the X alternative.
The internet watchdog NetBlocks reported the outage on Thursday, November 20, 2024 (see tweet below).
X has been restricted since February, while Meta’s Facebook and Instagram were restricted in July 2024 and May 2023, respectively, according to Surfshark’s Internet Tracker.
The block comes at the same time that virtual private network (VPN) tools, the software you need to bypass this type of restriction, are also being targeted. Authorities set November 30 as the deadline for businesses and freelancers to register their VPNs and avoid further service disruptions.
It isn’t clear yet if commercial VPNs will be blocked, too. Last week, however, Pakistan’s religious chief said that using a VPN is against Islamic law and called for a ban. The Ministry of Interior also called to block all “illegal” VPNs, claiming that terrorists use these tools “to facilitate violent activities and financial transactions in Pakistan.
