ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has informed the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology that major global social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, have declined to register in the country despite repeated attempts by authorities.
During a briefing the other day, PTA representatives revealed that while contact was established with all major tech companies to comply with local registration requirements, none provided a positive response.
The authority emphasized that this non-compliance persists despite Pakistan’s legal framework mandating that platforms appoint local representatives and adhere to content removal protocols.
Officials said the current standoff highlights ongoing friction between Islamabad and global tech giants over the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content Rules. While smaller platforms and certain Chinese-linked apps have registered, major players like Meta and Google continue to resist, citing concerns over data privacy, freedom of expression, and the operational costs of maintaining local offices.
PTA officials also noted a surge in user complaints, with briefings indicating approximately 150,000 grievances were logged in the past year alone. The committee discussed potential stricter enforcement measures, including possible blocks, as authorities push for better cooperation on user data sharing for criminal investigations and faster takedown of content deemed unlawful or blasphemous.
