What is DNS and can this centralization fill the life of a Pakistani internet user?

 What is DNS and can this centralization fill the life of a Pakistani internet user?

In Pakistan, discussions on access to the Internet, restrictions on its content and privacy concerns are commonplace, but for the past few days, the term 'DNS' has been echoing here.

 This is due to the publication of a number of news items claiming that the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) is considering implementing a centralized DNS control policy in Pakistan, which is being pursued by digital rights activists. It has been described by activists as an "attack on the structure of the Internet".

 However, an explanatory statement from the PTA on Tuesday stated that "the PTA has implemented an automated system to block illegal content under Section 37 of the PECA."

 "We have not implemented a centralized DNS control where the resolution will be centralized but all resolutions will be at the level of Internet Service Providers (ISPs)," the statement said. ۔ '

 The conversation began with a report in the Dawn newspaper, which claimed differences between the PTA and the ISPs over centralized DNS control.

 According to the report, ISPs had reservations about the policy affecting internet services and increasing the costs involved.

 The PTA statement also claimed that "this step has been taken after consultation and extensive deliberation with Pakistan's ISPs."

 "This latest development will not affect the prices of internet services, will not slow down the internet nor will it affect the privacy of citizens."

 However, after an analysis published in the Dawn newspaper, a detailed rebuttal was issued by the PTA, which rejected all the claims made in this column.

 Despite PTA's denials in this regard, most people on social media are asking questions about it and want to know if such a policy is implemented, what would be the impact on the average consumer.

What is DNS?

 Kamran Khan, IT's Senior Manager at Algazar Technology, has given details about DNS, the meaning of which is being explained.

 Whenever a website is registered, it is given an IP address in numeric form like 202.164.154.129.

 There are currently billions of such addresses. In such cases, for the convenience of the general user, it is given a name which is called Mapping Domain Name System (DNS).

 Think of it as a phone directory that contains the names and numbers of several people. For example, Google.com's IP address is (165 181 250 142). Now obviously remembering this number makes it easier to remember Google.com.

 This means that you will not know the IP address of the website whose address you have entered in the search bar, however you can call it the language spoken between the networks or the PO box number of the websites. ۔

 What is meant by DNS centralized control?

 Now if you understand this very complex term then you know from Kamran Khan what is meant by its centralized control.

 Understand that if PTA has to block any website, it has to take its request and go to ISPs which will prevent it from finding its IP address from DNS server.

In other words, if Twitter.com is banned in the country, then when you type its URL in the browser, the DNS server will not find its IP address. This will not be the IP address, the website will not open.

 However, due to centralized DNS control, the PTA allegedly wants to take over this power as well, ie a single central DNS server that caters to the IP addresses of all such applications.

 If PTA did not implement it then what is the problem?

The PTA issued the rebuttal following an analysis in Dawn by Osama Khilji, co-founder of digital rights activist Bolo Bhi.

 Speaking to the BBC, he claimed that the meeting convened by the PTA on June 1, which was attended by all the telecom operators of the country, was not only about centralized DNS control. There has even been talk of blocking global DNS servers.

 "If such a thing is not being thought of, then why are meetings being convened and this issue has been raised by the ISPs before me."

 However, the question is, if the PTA has issued a denial, then what is the problem?

 Speaking on the occasion, Shehzad Ahmed of Bytes for All, a digital rights organization, said, "Knowing how the PTA works and it does not make people-friendly decisions, we can never trust it." '

 "If they are saying today that this is not going to happen, then they cannot be trusted whether they will do it in a week or so because we do not know," he said.

 He cited the alleged use of web filtration software by PTA.

 PTA has been accused of using Internet filtration software in the past, but the company has never formally confirmed any such agreement or purchase of the software.

However, Shehzad, the founder of Bytes for All, claims that "apart from sending lists to ISPs, PTA also tries to control the Internet by using these filtration software."

 Would any such possible move cause problems in using the internet?

 Users are also worried that they will not have to leave a website permanently thanks to this new initiative.

 This is not the case with Shehzad Malik, he says, "whatever they want to do, people have options, people will continue to use it and bypass it."

 "They blocked things before, so people used VPNs."

 "If the PTA bases its policies on national security, insulting material or religious material, then what can we expect from them?"

 "The role of the PTA is to improve the existing services, to ensure the provision of internet to the people. This is not their focus."

 "I don't think it makes any difference. We've been telling them since 2010 that you can't control the internet," said Shehzad Ahmed.

 "You need to focus on the responsible use of the Internet and not start banning everything," he said.

 Kamran Khan also agrees with Shehzad that it is not possible to impose a complete ban on content despite centralized DNS control.

 "A large part of the Internet where such illegal activities take place is hidden from our view, and the Internet in front of our eyes is already monitored, if it is to be banned," he says. So people will use VPNs.

 "The extent to which internet access will be limited in Pakistan also depends on the PTA's intentions."