Journalism Pakistan
Journalism Pakistan
Even a win can't hide Pakistan's structural collapse in cricket فتح بھی پاکستان کرکٹ کے ڈھانچے کی تباہی نہیں چھپا سکتیJournalists stage walkout at post-budget briefing over government's dismissive attitude صحافیوں کا بجٹ کے بعد کی بریفنگ سے واک آؤٹ، حکومت کے توہین آمیز رویے پر احتجاجLegal storm brews as Dr. Nauman Niaz serves defamation notice on Shoaib Akhtar ڈاکٹر نعمان نیاز کی جانب سے شعیب اختر کو ہتکِ عزت کا نوٹسHRCP urges complete repeal of PECA, citing threats to free speech and civil liberties ایچ آر سی پی کا پی ای سی اے کے مکمل خاتمے کا مطالبہ، آزادی اظہار اور شہری آزادیوں کے لیے خطرہ قرارPFUJ condemns murder of journalist Syed Mohammad Shah, urges immediate justice پی ایف یو جے کا صحافی سید محمد شاہ کے قتل کی مذمت، قاتل کی فوری گرفتاری کا مطالبہState within a state? Police block reinstated Jang employees from resuming duties ریاست کے اندر ریاست؟ جنگ گروپ کے بحال شدہ ملازمین کو دفتر جانے سے روک دیا گیاMoeed Pirzada to report journalist Fakhar Durrani to FBI over alleged data theft معروف صحافی معید پیرزادہ کا فخر درانی کے خلاف ایف بی آئی کو رپورٹ کرنے کا فیصلہ

Governments of India and Pakistan among top requesters of Facebook user data

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published May 27, 2020

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Governments of India and Pakistan among top requesters of Facebook user data

The governments of India and Pakistan are stand-outs in terms of asking Facebook to reveal information related to user accounts.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), its Pakistan affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ), and Indian affiliate, the Indian Journalists’ Union (IJU) have expressed serious concern regarding their governments’ increasing number of requests to access Facebook data of individual users.

According to Facebook’s Transparency Report, published on May 12, India is second only to the United States to request such data from Facebook. India sent 26,698 requests to Facebook in the July-December 2019 period, an increase of 28 percent over the previous six months. Out of the total requests, Facebook responded to 57 percent of the Indian government’s queries.

Pakistan’s government sent a total of 2,027 requests to Facebook to divulge user data. According to Facebook, out of the total requests received, the social media giant provided information on at least 1,054 users to the Pakistani authorities.

The Pakistan government had also sent 2,270 requests demanding social media content restrictions, the second highest after Russia. According to the breakdown of the content restricted in Pakistan, Facebook suspended 2,009 posts.

Facebook releases its global transparency report bi-annually to provide information on the nature and extent of government requests, content restrictions and standards enforcement. The report details the nature and extent of government requests for user data.

Both the India and Pakistan have a reputation for censorship of content on social media platforms. India’s Information Technology Act, 2000 allows the government to remove content posted on internet.

In Pakistan, the recently introduced Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules allow the government to request social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Google to block or remove posts that the government objects to.

“The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) believes in freedom of speech and expression and argues that the accounts on social media remain functional until they are found to violate any law of the land or ignite ethnic or religious unrest. The PFUJ supports the people’s right to enjoy their freedom of expression and urges the authorities to avoid undue restrictions on social media accounts.”

IJU said: “We are against the practice of the government to collect data from social media platforms, bypassing right to privacy laws.”

IFJ said: “IFJ is concerned at the intent behind the Indian and Pakistan governments in requesting such information. This interference is a threat to freedom of expression.”—IFJ media release






 

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