Pakistan suggests Facebook link new accounts with mobile phone numbers

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 12 July 2017

Pakistan is advocating for Facebook to require mobile number verification for new account creations to reduce fake profiles. This initiative aims to strengthen collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority in addressing blasphemous content.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has suggested the Facebook management link opening of new accounts with mobile phone number to address the problem of fake accounts.

The social media network has designated a focal person to coordinate with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for prompt action against any reported material.

“Facebook reiterated their commitment toward removal/blocking of the blasphemous and objectionable content and assured that they will improve the cooperation and response time,” a PTA official told APP.

“Mobile numbers are verified through biometric verification system in Pakistan. Currently Facebook account is being opened through an e-mail, could overcome its issues of fake accounts if all existing and current accounts are verified with phone numbers.”

PTA has received more than 6,000 complaints online which were reviewed and 350 of them contained blasphemous content that were ultimately blocked. As many as 12,977 URLs of blasphemous content have been blocked so far.

The PTA has established a web analysis cell where 25 personnel work on identifying unlawful content on internet including that of blasphemous nature.

Further since, February 2017, 137 blasphemous links were blocked by Facebook in Pakistan.

Facebook was also asked to help law enforcement agencies in Pakistan by providing them with the requisite data they asked for. Facebook, in response, said it received around 1,000 requests in 2016 from Pakistan and about 70 percent of them were complied with and that they would continue to support such requests. - APP

KEY POINTS:

• Pakistan suggests Facebook link new accounts with mobile phone numbers.
• PTA reported over 6,000 online complaints regarding blasphemous content.
• More than 12,977 URLs containing objectionable material have been blocked.
• Facebook complied with around 70% of requests from Pakistan authorities in 2016.
• Biometric verification system is used for mobile number validation in Pakistan.