PTA issues clarification, says has not implemented centralised DNS control.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Tuesday issued a clarification saying that, contrary to media reports, it had not implemented centralised DNS (Domain Name System) control.

The DNS is a coded system consisting of 12 digits used to identify internet protocol addresses, which translates them into letters to identify a website.

The statement came after a Profit magazine report stated the telecom sector regulator wanted to implement the system, which is seen as an onslaught on the fundamentals of the internet infrastructure.

In an Op-Ed for Dawn, Usama Khilji - the director of an advocacy forum for digital rights - wrote that if fully implemented, it would "significantly slow down internet speed in Pakistan, increase the cost of internet services, undermine privacy and effectively stunt Pakistan's IT sector expansion and advancement in technology and associated services."

However, in the statement issued today, PTA said it had only implemented an "automation of blocking of unlawful content as mandated" under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (Peca).

"Contrary to the claims, PTA has not implemented centralised DNS control whereby all resolution will be centrally performed by PTA. Instead, the resolution will be performed at internet service providers' (ISPs) end," the statement said.

The regulator said that the blocking of illegal content was already being done.

However, to improve the effectiveness of the same, an automation process through domain name resolution at ISP level has been implemented under the policy directives of the government of Pakistan, the statement added.

"This has been done in consultation and extensive due deliberation with the ISPs of Pakistan."

PTA said that the recent development had no effect on increasing the cost of internet services, and neither slowed down internet speeds nor had any implications on the privacy of citizens as had been "wrongly portrayed in some media reports".

"Furthermore, it will also have no effect on the current arrangements with content delivery networks (CDNs). In view of above stated position, all speculations related to the process should put to rest," the statement said.

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