X blockade ‘red flag’ for investors, say experts
Disruption in the use of social media has an economic impact and can fuel disinformation, experts said, commenting on the ban on the open use of X in Pakistan. Access to the social media giant has been blocked since Feb 17 as allegations of rigging during the Feb 8 general elections continue to make news. UK-based Alp Toker, the director of NetBlocks, said X disruption in Pakistan could have millions of dollars in economic impact in the region. "The disruption to X in Pakistan could have an economic impact in the region of $50m, based on our COST outage disruption impact estimator. This takes into account lost productivity and lost Business and investment opportunities," Toker said in a statement sent to Anadolu . Ban was imposed after an elections officer in Rawalpindi, Liaqat Ali Chattha, publicly claimed to have allegedly changed election results in his area. It soon went viral on social media. Read more: Freedom Network demands restoration of X, slams caretake...