Minister says media should blacklist terrorists

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 24 December 2014

Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan emphasizes the need for a media code of conduct to prevent terrorists from misusing media. He advocates for stricter regulations to counter online hate speech and militant content.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has called on media houses Wednesday to blacklist terrorists by devising a media code of conduct. Addressing a meeting of parliamentary leaders held at the Prime Minister House, he said that misuse of media by the terrorist outfits should end and this can be easily done if the media houses come up with a code of conduct to implement. “If needed, a law may be made to blacklist people from appearing on-air,” he said, suggesting strict punishment for the media groups found guilty of violating the blacklist. He said the terror threats should not be broadcast as breaking news. “The spread of online hate speech and content generated by terrorists needs to end,” he said. The minister also said the Internet should be regulated to take down accounts created by militants on social media like Facebook and Twitter. #NoAirTimeForTaliban, an online campaign, is already urging anchorpersons to deny airtime to militants and their apologists. Reacting to the minister’s statement, media experts and analysts said the coverage to terrorists and militants cannot be denied until the government ensures fool proof security for journalists. They also said the government should first try to take down all the online content generated by the terrorists before directing media houses to deny airtime to Taliban.