PTA Records 20% Decline in Unlawful Social Media Content During FY 2024–25

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reported a notable reduction in the upload and spread of unlawful and immoral content on social media platforms, with a 20 percent decrease recorded on an annual basis. Officials attribute this decline to enhanced monitoring, stricter enforcement, and improved coordination with digital platforms.

According to official data, PTA blocked 88,035 unlawful and immoral URLs during the financial year 2024–25. In comparison, 109,771 URLs were blocked in the previous year, reflecting a clear downward trend in the circulation of such content.

PTA Records 20% Decline in Unlawful Social Media Content During FY 2024–25

Documents show that TikTok accounted for the highest number of blocked web pages, with 35,002 URLs restricted during the year. This was followed by Facebook, where 25,482 unlawful pages were blocked. On Instagram, 13,242 links were taken down, while 8,586 URLs were blocked on YouTube.

Other platforms also faced regulatory action. 2,103 pages were blocked on Twitter, 991 on Likee, and 345 on SnackVideo as part of PTA’s ongoing content regulation efforts.

A significant portion of the blocked content fell under the categories of decency and morality, with 38,214 websites restricted during the year. Content considered against the security and defence of Pakistan led to the blocking of 31,313 web pages.

Additionally, 7,608 URLs were blocked for content that defamed Islam, while 6,269 websites containing sectarian or hateful material were restricted. PTA also blocked 2,498 web pages for defamatory or impersonation-related content and 353 websites for contempt of court.

Strengthening Online Oversight

PTA officials stated that these actions were taken under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which empowers the authority to remove or block online content that violates national laws, public order, or moral standards. The authority emphasized that continued engagement with social media companies and public reporting mechanisms has played a key role in improving compliance.

PTA has once again urged users to report unlawful online content through its complaint portal and mobile application, stressing that public cooperation remains essential in ensuring a safer and more responsible digital environment in Pakistan.