The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) blocked over 800,000 web URLs on the internet related to pornographic, anti-state and blasphemous content.
Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 gives the internet regulatory authority absolute power to block and remove online content which is objectionable.
In the past as well, PTA has been vigilant to block digital content that does not meet the social and religious standards. PTA has the authority to block content under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Section 37.
In order to decide which content to take down, the PTA has created an e-portal for monitoring purposes. About 30 government institutions can directly access the portal and lodge a complaint. Following the complaint, PTA takes the necessary actions. Additionally, the general public can submit their complaints to the PTA at the following email address: info@pta.gov.pk.
PTA also frequently directs telecom service providers to keep an eye over content uploaded and shared in the cyberspace and bring the unwanted content into their notice.
Most of the pornographic and blasphemous content was found disseminated from Facebook and Twitter accounts. However, PTA has brought the issue into the notice of Facebook and Twitter authorities. Both tech giants have ensured PTA of maximum cooperation and taking up necessary follow up actions.
However, objectionable content on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram can’t be blocked, it must be deleted from its source by the uploader or the social media company itself. In past, the government has moved numerous requests, asking Twitter and Facebook to take down several anti-state accounts.
The fact that Pakistan tops the list of porn-searching countries according to the statistics released by Google, has forced authorities to take notice of the alarming situation that is morally corrupting the youth of the country.
