JournalismPakistan.com | Published August 30, 2020
Join our WhatsApp channel
Pakistani regulators have asked YouTube to immediately block all videos they consider "objectionable" from being accessed in the country, a demand criticized by rights campaigners.
There are already fears about creeping censorship and muzzling of the press and activists in Pakistan, with existing or proposed restrictions limiting free speech, usually in the name of Islam or national security.
In a statement Thursday, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said it has asked YouTube to "immediately block vulgar, indecent, immoral, nude and hate speech content for viewing in Pakistan".
The PTA said viewing such content has "extremely negative effects" and can foster "repugnant discord".
YouTube did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday, and a PTA spokesman declined to speak about the authority's next step if the Google-owned platform does not comply.
In July, the PTA issued a final warning to Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, ordering it to filter any obscene content.
It also blocked the video-streaming app Bigo Live, though the ban was lifted after a few days once the platform agreed to moderate "immoral and indecent content".
This is not the first time Pakistani authorities have targeted YouTube.
It was blocked in the Muslim-majority country in 2012 after a US-made film that negatively depicted the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and triggered violent protests across the Islamic world.
Access was restored in 2016 after YouTube launched a country-specific version ensuring the filtering of content deemed blasphemous.
Free speech campaigners were quick to criticize the latest PTA demand.
"The PTA does not make any effort to narrowly tailor its request or define what it means by terms such as 'vulgar' and 'immoral'," digital rights advocate Nighat Dad told AFP.
While countries can ask social media platforms to take down specific content in accordance with local law, YouTube does not always comply if the requests go against international norms and principles, she added.
"Social media companies such as YouTube have various human rights commitments and... have to uphold principles relating to the right to privacy, freedom of expression and right to access to information."
In a recent attempt to tighten control, lawmakers in Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province, passed a bill last month that seeks to put publishers in prison if they print or import material with "objectionable" content.
The Punjab governor has not yet signed it into law.—AFP
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.