The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) recently reported that there are around 20 million daily attempts to access porn websites in Pakistan using VPNs. In response, the PTA has blocked 844,000 pornographic websites and 180,000 additional links with blasphemous content.
The PTA receives reports from government agencies and individual complaints to identify and block sites with objectionable content. To further control online content, the PTA has started blocking unregistered VPNs, labeling them as potential security risks.
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The PTA is using a firewall to temporarily block unregistered VPNs and expedite the process for users to register them. Unregistered VPNs, officials say, can allow access to sensitive data and illegal content.
Since 2010, the PTA has registered about 20,500 VPNs, covering over 1,400 companies. The PTA’s recent actions aim to ensure safe internet use and protect the country’s social values.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has also voiced concerns, noting that exposure to obscene and blasphemous content online has reached alarming levels. The ministry has urged the PTA to act swiftly to block such material, citing the negative effects on Pakistan’s social and moral values.
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