Ban on YouTube to continue
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 4 December 2014 | Daud Malik
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The Pakistani government confirmed it has no immediate plans to lift the YouTube ban due to a lack of technical solutions. The ban, in place since 2012, was implemented following protests over a blasphemous film.Summary
ISLAMABAD: Without explicitly saying that it has no plans to lift ban on YouTube, the government told the National Assembly Thursday that no technical solution is available to “guarantee 100% blocking of the objectionable content on YouTube”.
During the Question Hour PPPP legislator Shazia Marri asked about any “proposal under consideration…to lift ban on YouTube; if so, when…”
Moved by Ms Marri, the National Assembly in May this year had approved a resolution which asked the government to take steps to lift ban on YouTube, which was banned in September 2012 after countrywide protests over a blasphemous movie - Innocence of Muslims.
According to the written answer during the Question Hour, the Minister In-charge of the Cabinet Division told the House the Supreme Court ordered Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on 17 September 2012 to block offending material on YouTube or any other website.
The minister added that as no technical solution was available which could completely block objectionable material on YouTube “in compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders YouTube was blocked by PTA and compliance report was submitted to the Supreme Court on the same day.”
The minister said 1265 URLs containing blasphemous movie, “Innocence of Muslims” on YouTube were blocked and warning messages have been displayed on 127 URLs by requesting YouTube before February 2014. Thereafter, he added due to copy right issues and obeying US court orders, Google removed the full length movies. “However, clips of smaller length are still available on YouTube.”
The minister said as a long term solution, “Intermediary Liability Protection law is required.” Elaborating, he added the government is in the process of enacting the law through the Prevention of Electronic Bill 2014. “It will help towards localization of YouTube in Pakistan.” Once localized, the minister added “they will respond to court orders from Pakistan.”
Google had declined PTA’s request to give Pakistan rights to control YouTube locally like it has done in India.
Key Points
- The YouTube ban was initiated in September 2012 following protests over a blasphemous movie.
- Technical solutions to block objectionable content are currently unavailable.
- The government has proposed an Intermediary Liability Protection law for long-term solutions.
- The Minister stated that localization of YouTube is necessary for compliance with court orders.
- Attempts to allow Pakistan local control over YouTube have been declined by Google.
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