Leading global internet businesses, including Facebook, Google, and Twitter, alongside others, have collectively voiced their opposition and threatened to discontinue services in Pakistan following the nation’s decision to grant extensive authority to its regulatory bodies for the censorship of online content.

This week, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan authorized the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to eliminate and obstruct digital material considered to incite “harm, intimidation, or discontent” towards the government, or otherwise compromise the “integrity, security, and defense of Pakistan.”

Represented by the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), these technology companies expressed “alarm” regarding the broad scope of Pakistan’s recently enacted legislation targeting internet platforms. The AIC membership extends beyond Facebook, Google, and Twitter to include Apple, Amazon, LinkedIn, SAP, Expedia Group, Yahoo, Airbnb, Grab, Rakuten, Booking.com, Line and Cloudflare.

This situation echoes previous concerns, as these technology firms have previously communicated their reservations about the proposed law, initially put forward by Khan’s administration in February of this year.

Following the initial proposal, the group had previously indicated a potential withdrawal of services, prompting Pakistan to pledge a comprehensive consultation process involving both civil society and technology companies.

However, the AIC stated on Thursday that this consultation did not materialize, and reiterated that its members would be unable to maintain operations within the country under the current legal framework.

“The restrictive data localization requirements will negatively impact individuals’ access to an unrestricted and open internet, and effectively isolate Pakistan’s digital economy from the global network. The expansion of the PTA’s powers, enabling them to compel social media companies to disregard established human rights principles concerning privacy and freedom of expression, is deeply concerning,” the group explained in a statement.

“These Rules would create significant obstacles for AIC Members in providing their services to Pakistani users and businesses. Should Pakistan aspire to become a desirable location for technology investment and achieve its objectives for digital advancement, we strongly encourage the Government to collaborate with the industry to establish practical, transparent regulations that safeguard the advantages of the internet and protect individuals from potential harm.”

The new law stipulates that technology companies failing to remove or block unlawful content within 24 hours of notification from Pakistani authorities will be subject to penalties of up to $3.14 million. Similar to its neighbor, India—which has also proposed comparable regulations without significant opposition—Pakistan now also mandates that these companies establish local offices within the country.

These new rules follow a recent increase in Pakistan’s efforts to suppress content deemed inappropriate online. Earlier this year, the popular mobile game PUBG Mobile was prohibited, and last month, TikTok was temporarily blocked.

Pakistan and India represent relatively small portions of revenue for these technology companies. However, India, having introduced several protectionist laws in recent years, has largely avoided substantial protest from global tech firms due to its substantial market size. Pakistan currently has approximately 75 million internet users.

In contrast, India constitutes the largest user base for both Google and Facebook. “Silicon Valley companies are drawn to India because it represents a significant source of monthly active users,” noted Kunal Shah, a seasoned entrepreneur, during a conference in 2018.