PTA starts blocking of illegal SIMs

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has started blocking illegal SIMs. In the first phase from Friday, fake SIMs and SIMs on canceled ID cards have been blocked.

According to sources, illegal SIMs are being blocked on the basis of data obtained from NADRA. In the second phase, SIMs registered on expiring identity cards will be blocked. In the third phase, SIMs registered in the name of deceased persons will be blocked.

Before the blocking of mobile SIMs, awareness messages were sent to users. The messages asked them to update data related to SIMs. Sources said illegal use of mobile SIMs is not acceptable in any case. Fake SIMs are being used in various illegal activities.

The PTA has blocked more than 363,000 URLs in the category of illegal content during the last three and a half years. From January 2021 to June 2024, the category of defamatory or impersonating content had the lowest blocking rate. Social media platforms blocked 307,610 of these URLs. The overall blocking rate is 84.72pc. The PTA is taking action on 2,480 URLs related to contempt of court. Social media platforms blocked 1,496 of them. The blocking rate is 60.32pc. Rate of blocking content against security and defence is slightly higher.

The PTA examined 10,1682 URLs, of which 74,224 were blocked, thus a blocking rate of 73pc. It took action over 6,853 URLs in the miscellaneous content category and social media platforms and blocked 5,621 of them. The rate of blocking content against the glory of Islam was also high, where action was taken on 46,103 URLs and 37,479 were blocked. 34,673 URLs were examined and 28,922 blocked for sectarianism and hate speech content.

The highest blocking rate was seen in the unethical category, where 158,054 URLs were examined and 152,646 blocked. It has a content blocking rate of 96.46pc, with all 51 URLs related to proxy content blocked.