Social media platform X, formerly Twitter, was restored to millions of Pakistani users on Monday afternoon, more than 24 hours after an independent Internet watchdog confirmed the “nation-scale” disruption amid nationwide protests against alleged election fraud.
Netblocks, a UK-based Internet monitor, verified a “national-scale” interruption of X on Saturday, coinciding with rallies by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other parties over suspected election rigging in the country on February 8.
X remained limited for Pakistanis on Monday morning, more than 24 hours after the interruptions began. Access to the platform was temporarily restored on Sunday morning before being restricted again.
While it is unclear what caused the issue, social media shutdowns have historically occurred in the country during times of political turmoil and turbulence. Access to the social networking platform was restored on Monday morning.
“Metrics show that X/Twitter has now been restricted in #Pakistan for 24 hours,” Netblocks wrote on X on Sunday night.
“The latest and longest in a series of nation-scale Internet censorship measures imposed by authorities as reports of election fraud emerge.”
⚠ Update: Metrics show that X/Twitter has now been restricted in #Pakistan for 24 hours, the latest and longest in a series of nation-scale internet censorship measures imposed by authorities as reports of election fraud emerge ???? https://t.co/XAsM39sBb5 pic.twitter.com/ZKIhINj3Pc
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) February 18, 2024
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