Why are media files facing issues on WhatsApp?

As users across Pakistan continue to face internet hindrances, resulting in difficulties with browsing, as well as downloading and sharing media files, Sajjad Mustafa Syed, chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), has hinted at "possible surveillance" of social media platforms.

"If a message is being delivered on WhatsApp but a picture is not, it is possible that monitoring is underway," he said in a statement.

Reports indicate that both WiFi and mobile data services were experiencing severe slowdowns, making it nearly impossible for users to send or receive media files, such as images, videos, and voice notes on popular platforms like WhatsApp.

The incumbent government has officially confirmed that the government was upgrading its ‘web management system’ as it carried out multiple tests of its internet firewall, with the first and second trials conducted in July and August, respectively.

On both occasions, the trials slowed down internet speeds and disrupted digital platforms. However, no specific reason has come to light for recent internet disruptions featuring slow internet speed.

These internet issues were confirmed by Downdetector.com which showed Gmail outages spiking at around 9am today (Tuesday).

Meanwhile, the P@SHA chairman — in a statement today — also rejected the notion of information technology (IT) companies leaving Pakistan due to slow internet speed, saying: "Not a single company has left the country."

He said that full-time IT workers were not facing an issue as there was not a problem with fixed-line internet. "Part-time workers were facing hindrance due to lack of fixed lines," he added.

Referring to the firewall, Sajjad said that surveillance or installation of firewalls was carried out in every country. "[...] perhaps there is some deficiency in the procedure."

"In the United States, security personnel knocks on the door within 10 minutes if someone shares illegal content," he added.

Furthermore, he said the ongoing internet issues would be resolved within three months.

Internet disruptions are not unusual in Pakistan, as the country has been facing sporadic outages and access hindrances for months now for various reasons.

Last week, internet and mobile services were disrupted in the wake of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) "do-or-die" protest in Islamabad.

IT experts say that due to the extremely poor state of the internet in Pakistan, the country's economy is losing billions of rupees on a daily basis.