Digital firewall in Pakistan can be considered as an attempt to stop digital terrorism, those who spread propaganda against state institutions and personalities on social media will be considered as digital terrorists.
The Ministry of Law and Justice has issued a notification for the trial of cases under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016. Powers were delegated to the District Courts in consultation with the Chief Justice Islamabad High Court. Sessions Courts of Islamabad, Additional Sessions Judges of East and West and Civil Judges will have jurisdiction to try cases.
Preparations are underway to deal with the hate mongering elements of the federal government. The Ministry of Law and Justice has issued a notification related to the trial of cases under the PECA Act. The federal cabinet decided to approve the establishment of courts for trial under the PECA Act through circulation. Strict legal action will be taken against the propagandists. Powers were assigned to the District Courts in consultation with the Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court to prosecute cases under the PICA Act against the above elements. The Additional Sessions Judges and Civil Judges of Islamabad Session Courts S and West will have the authority to try the cases.
Remember that the spokesman of the Pakistan Army, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif, in a press conference compared between extremists and ‘digital terrorists’ and said that ‘the target of both is the army.’ They are attacking on the basis of fake news to weaken the relationship. Lt. General Ahmed Sharif also said that “just as a terrorist tries to convince himself by holding a weapon, so does a digital terrorist mobile.” , tries to spread anxiety through computers, lies, fake news and propaganda. It should be clear that the term ‘digital terrorism’ was used by the Pakistan Army earlier in the declaration of the Corps Commander Conference in May this year was also used, which stated that digital terrorism had the ‘obvious purpose of spreading disillusionment among the Pakistani nation and trying to create discord between national institutions’.
Dorothy Denning is a renowned American researcher specializing in cyber security issues. She define ‘cyber terrorism’ as follows, Attacks on computers or networks connected to them to harm a government to achieve political or social goals are called cyber terrorism. In computing, a firewall.
A network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined security rules. This technology can also track the IP address of the creator of controversial content.It is a system modeled after the ‘Great Firewall’ of China that will monitor all online traffic in Pakistan.
The authorities are refusing to give their position on this issue and limited data is being provided to the public.
Digital security experts say that due to privacy, vague ideas and speculations are circulating. It is not exactly the same as the Chinese firewall, but rather different from it.
According to the report, this firewall will use Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) and IP-level blocking. Deep Packet Inspection, DPI can monitor online data packets for objectionable content and as soon as any such When the content is found, it will also track the IP address of the sender of the controversial content. This will help the authorities to determine the location where the controversial content was created and disseminated.
But according to different countries, there will be a change in the nature of the content which is considered controversial. For example, in developed societies such technology is used to prevent serious crimes such as child pornography.
In Pakistan, this technology will probably be used to stop digital terrorism, suppress anti-state sentiments. It is certain, this move will impose more censorship on the common Pakistani. The lack of knowledge of our policy makers regarding the digital world is surprising. The recent ban on social media platform X is the best example. Despite the restricted access to X in the country, many ordinary citizens and almost all government officials are accessing it through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). This has clearly failed efforts to ban the social media platform.
The ban has significantly increased the business of VPN service providers internationally. Since the ban, the use of VPN services in Pakistan has increased by more than 100 percent, while reports show a 400 percent increase in the number of new VPN users in Pakistan. “Advocates against will fall under this firewall.” However, VPN users will gain access to restricted content despite all restrictions, and the effectiveness of such firewalls is inconsistent. ExpressVPN confirmed that the services are also used in China. This also raises questions about the effectiveness of firewalls and the purchase of such technology. A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined security rules. As debate swirls around social media freedoms and the emerging concept of “digital terrorism,” Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s government is pushing ahead with its plans for a state-of-the-art national firewall. Major platforms like Facebook, X (Twitter) and YouTube are set to reshape Pakistan’s digital landscape by increasing government oversight and control over online activities. Although the move has been framed as an effort to counter ‘anti-state propaganda’, it has sparked an important debate about digital freedom, privacy, and the implications for internet users in Pakistan. It works by monitoring and controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules defined by Installed at Internet gateways, firewalls filter Internet traffic, ensuring that only authorized data passes through.Internet Gateways: Firewalls are placed at Internet gateways where uplink and downlink traffic is managed, internet traffic is filtered to ensure security.
Open Systems Interconnection OSI Model: The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model is a 7-layer communication framework that describes how messages are delivered over the Internet, with firewalls playing an important role.
Deep Packet Inspection (DPI): Firewalls use DPI to inspect the details of Internet traffic, including which applications are used and the specific addresses involved, allowing accurate identification of message senders. .
Social media data filtering: DPI enables firewalls to filter social media data, managing data at the IP level rather than just at the application level. Content Control: Firewalls can block unwanted websites, social media platforms, and certain content, ensuring that only appropriate data gets through.
Source Identification: The system provides immediate assistance in identifying the origin of content, allowing action against the content creator once the IP address is revealed. What are these? And how it really works.
To understand the potential impact of Pakistan’s new firewall, it is useful to look at the Great Firewall of China, a prominent example of a comprehensive digital censorship system. Launched in 1996 under Project Golden Shield, the Great Firewall is a state-of-the-art system designed to control access to the Internet and suppress dissenting views.
– Inspection of Internet traffic: All Internet traffic entering and leaving China is inspected to prevent access to prohibited content.
– Domain and IP Blocking: Specific domains and IP addresses are blacklisted to prevent access to specific websites.
– Keyword filtering: Searches for specific blocked terms are either blocked or redirected to prevent users from accessing sensitive information.
The Great Firewall has several benefits for China, including improved political stability, social control, and protection of national security. It has also supported local industries by limiting foreign competition and protecting Chinese cultural values. However, it has been criticized for suppressing freedom of expression and limiting access to global information.
Pakistan’s Firewall: Current Projects and Costs,
Pakistan’s proposed firewall will be inspired by systems used in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. The project will be funded partly by the government and partly by Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
According to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) sources, ISPs are already bound by their licensing agreements to block illegal content.
Despite the government’s assurances, details about the firewall are scarce.
Experts and digital rights advocates have raised concerns about the lack of transparency and potential impact on freedom of expression. The secrecy around the implementation of the plan has led to speculation and uncertainty about its scope and effectiveness.
The government’s efforts to control online content come amid a significant increase in VPN usage in Pakistan. The recent ban on social media platform X, for example, has led to a surge in VPN subscriptions. Forbes reported a more than 100 percent increase in VPN usage since the ban, with some sources citing a 400 percent increase in new VPN users.
VPNs offer users a way to bypass restrictions and access blocked content. Despite government efforts to limit access to certain platforms, the widespread use of VPNs indicates strong resistance to censorship. 7 Best and Most Trusted VPN Services for 2024 – The Internet is.
The proposed firewall reflects a broader trend of increasing digital control in Pakistan, a country with a history of human rights concerns related to freedom of expression. Critics say that such steps undermine the principles. It should be noted that the term ‘digital terrorism’ was used by the Pakistan Army earlier in the declaration of the Corps Commanders Conference in May this year. that digital terrorism has the ‘obvious purpose of spreading disillusionment among the Pakistani nation and trying to create discord between national institutions’.
