PTA Says Blocking Selective Content on Social Media is Difficult

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has told the Islamabad High Court that blocking specific content on major social media networks is technically challenging due to these platforms using encrypted connections. The PTA detailed this in a report submitted to the court in Writ Petition No. 4163 of 2026. They explained that giants like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google and X utilize the secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) for data transmission between users and their servers.

Encryption prevents network operators from pinpointing the exact content or internet address being accessed. The PTA clarified that while telecom companies can determine the platform or server a user is interacting with, they cannot view the precise resource accessed through an encrypted connection. This means blocking a single post, video or page on an HTTPS-based platform might not be technically feasible without the cooperation of the respective company.

The authority stated they could reach out to social media firms through formal channels to ask for removal of specific content. However, such requests would be reviewed by the platforms according to their own community guidelines and terms of service. If the request doesn't meet their criteria, it might be declined. The PTA also mentioned another technical option could involve blocking access to the entire website or platform on a best-effort basis.

They cautioned though that such a measure would also obstruct access to lawful and appropriate content, and thus must be weighed against legal authority, proportionality and the wider implications of the restriction.