A pointless ban

PPF Editor — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 12:19:24 +0000

It has been a year and a half since the previous government decided to block YouTube, and the new government upon their arrival, issued a statement that the matter would be looked into, which is basically just another way of displaying their indifference and lack of knowledge on the issue. Internet censorship by the PTA is nothing new, however, this past year and a half has revealed their over-zealous and self-righteous side, considering that they feel themselves to be the guardians of morality in society. We all know how it started. A senseless video was made, which sparked protests all over the Muslim world, and gave license to the government to block any websites they felt were ‘wrong’. Not much trouble was taken to actually attempt to define this abstract concept.

YouTube is a vast database of videos that encompass virtually all areas of human knowledge and entertainment, and it is believed that out of 20 million internet users in Pakistan, at least 7 million relied on this website for something or the other. The Pakistan Telecommunication Act of 1996 banned transmission of messages that were deemed “false, fabricated, indecent or obscene”. The PTA uses this act to block any content that might or might not be inappropriate, with no specific criteria outlined. In the case of YouTube, the government is demanding that Google should implement nationwide restrictions on what is sees as ‘blasphemous’ material, so that blocking the entire website is not necessary. Google is reluctant to do this, because as a private corporation they do not see the legal environment of Pakistan to be conducive to running a business, nor will they be catering to a wide enough market to be sufficiently interested in making an effort.

Needless to say, the state holds the responsibility of the provision of rights to its citizens, and this responsibility cannot be shunted off to a private enterprise. In the case lodged against the government by various NGOs working for Internet freedom, the Ministry of IT and Telecom has not shown sufficient interest. The new Minister, Anusha Rahman has not shown up to any of the hearings, nor is she likely to do so. Unfortunately, no progress is being made. Those that are hoping that the regime will see sense should face reality. The PML-N does not see the provision of internet freedoms as a priority. And YouTube is unlikely to be accessible anywhere in the near future.

The Nation

Blasphemous content: IT ministry upbeat to lift YouTube ban

Web Desk — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 09:58:11 +0000

ISLAMABAD: The ministry of information technology was upbeat about lifting the ban on video sharing website YouTube after having finally acquired the ‘missing’ filters to block blasphemous content within days but it seems that the matter will consume more time.

On August 22, State Minister for Information Technology Anusha Rehman revealed during a briefing that Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) had helped to provide filters through which over 4,000 URLs containing blasphemous content were blocked.

The test run of filters did yield results and the ministry was hopeful to convene the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) meeting within a week so that the matter regarding opening of YouTube be taken up for an approval. However, the test run is still in process and the IMC has not been convened.

“The IMC meeting has not been convened yet,” said the ministry spokesperson Kamran Ali Khan while talking to The Express Tribune. Responding to a question, he said “the test run [of the filters] is going on and the IMC meeting would be convened once there are desirable results.”

Claining that the meeting would take place in the near future, spokesperson did not give any dates.

The former information technology secretary was transferred and Akhlaq Ahmed Tarar was given this position last week. So Since it is the IT secretary who chairs the IMC meeting, it will take some time for the new secretary to get acquainted with the issue. This can further postpone the meeting.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had earlier estimated that it would cost $10 million to place filters to block blasphemous content on the internet. It was claimed that there were eight million URLs that contained the blasphemous material.

After having found the mechanism [filters], the PTA was supposed to put it in place and establish a call centre with toll free numbers and email address so that people could report if blasphemous content was uploaded to any URL. The PTCL had provided the filters needed to block the sacrilegious material free of cost.

YouTube was blocked on September 2012, by the IT ministry on the direction of IMC following release of a blasphemous movie that reputed violent protests across the country.

The IMC, constituted by the prime minister in 2006, has the mandate to evaluate and restrict offensive online content in Pakistan. The committee is headed by the IT secretary and has representation from different ministries, including religious affairs and interior, including other agencies.

The IMC had made the decision last September after evaluating the circumstances, and concluded that PTA should block YouTube till further orders. Subsequently, the IT ministry ordered PTA to block the websites. A policy directive was also issued by the ministry in May 2012 to PTA to deploy a state of art solution to block blasphemous and pornographic websites.

State Minister Anusha Rehman had said in a briefing that PTA had failed to implement the ministry’s directive. The reason she gave was that the PTA fell under the Cabinet Division and not the administrative control of the IT ministry.

Express Tribune

Block YouTube – Pakistan Freedom of Expression Monitor

A pointless ban

Blasphemous content: IT ministry upbeat to lift YouTube ban