KARACHI: Pakistan has been ranked third in the world over the imposition of internet restrictions in the first half of 2023.

According to a report by Surfshark, a virtual private network company headquartered in Lithuania, a half-year analysis of internet shutdown based on the Internet Shutdown Tracker reveals that Pakistan was responsible for three of the 42 new restrictions worldwide, which were imposed following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan 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 witnessed across the country for several days afterward.

The Surfshark report ranks Pakistan behind Iran and India as the countries leading the list of regimes that imposed internet restrictions during the first half of 2023. With Asia being the focal point of most internet shutdowns.

Iran and India dominate the tally for most shutdowns in the first half of 2023, says a report by Surfshark

Iran witnessed the most internet disruptions at this time, with 14 cases in total, all of which occurred in Zahedan during Friday protests over the Zahedan massacre.

Source: Dawn

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