Twitter has reportedly blocked access to Pakistan government's account in Gilgit-Baltistan and changed the region's location to parts of India.
According to a report by Dawn, Twitter has blocked Pakistan’s official Twitter account in Gilgit-Baltistan and is displaying the location of the region as the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Even when users turn on the location feature on the app, tweets sent from Gilgit-Baltistan are marked as originating from J&K.
Several Twitter users in Gilgit-Baltistan have complained about being unable to access the government’s official account from the region. When trying to access the account, a message is displayed stating that the “account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand.”
Pakistani officials have denied any such changes and called the claims baseless. They stated that there are no restrictions on internet freedom, media, and expression in Gilgit Baltistan. However, locals have shown explicit changes in Twitter location and blocked access to the Pakistan Government’s official account.
The government’s official account has been banned in India since March 2023, and it has been withheld twice in 2022 due to legal complaints.
Twitter users in Gilgit-Baltistan have expressed their frustration, stating that the platform has disrespected the region’s status and identity. They called it an attack on Gilgit-Baltistan’s identity.
Some users have reported that they are unable to add Pakistan’s location to their tweets, with the only option being Jammu and Kashmir. This has raised concerns that India may have influenced Twitter to change the geotagging of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Twitter’s actions have sparked a debate about internet freedom and the autonomy of regions like Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistani officials should address this issue and ensure the accurate representation of the region on social media platforms.