YouTube launches Pakistani version, paving way for ban to be lifted
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 14 January 2016
Join our WhatsApp channel
Google has unveiled a localized version of YouTube for Pakistan, aiming to address the Supreme Court's ban on the site. The initiative may allow for localized content moderation and potentially lift the ban imposed since 2012.Summary
ISLAMABAD - Google has launched a localized version of YouTube in Pakistan, potentially paving the way for the country’s top court to lift a ban on the site over “blasphemous content”.
The site was blocked after “Innocence of Muslims” was uploaded, an American-made film that triggered protests across the Muslim world - including in Pakistan, where more than 20 people died in demonstrations. Google said Tuesday users in Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka would see a new YouTube homepage featuring local content in native languages.
YouTube, owned by California-based Google, has already launched similar initiatives in dozens of other countries. The Supreme Court’s ban in place since September 2012 applied to YouTube’s global and localized sites.
The new site, youtube.com.pk, is currently live but inaccessible inside Pakistan, and the government and Google hope its creation will mean the Supreme Court will lift the ban, even if only partially. Content on the local site can still be regulated, and a senior government official told AFP Wednesday Pakistan’s telecommunication authority could ask Google to remove content it deems objectionable.
If Google complies, it could meet a condition set by the Supreme Court for lifting the ban. “The understanding is that on the localised version offensive and blasphemous content could be blocked by Google on the government’s request,” the official said. A Google spokesman confirmed that governments are allowed to request the removal of YouTube videos that violate local laws.
“We have clear community guidelines, and when videos violate those rules, we remove them,” the spokesman said. But the Internet giant said it would review requests before taking videos down.
“Government requests to remove content will continue to be tracked and included in our Transparency Report.” Islamabad has been in intermittent talks with Google for several years over the issue, another source close to the matter said, without providing a specific timeframe for the unveiling of YouTube Pakistan. “We are in a very near-term sort of thing.
The roadblocks have been removed,” the source said. A Supreme Court official meanwhile said the next court hearing about the ban is in two weeks. Users in Pakistan continue to access YouTube using proxy servers and Virtual Private Networks. Blasphemy is a contentious issue in Pakistan and the country has seen violent riots sparked by content considered offensive to Islam.
In 2010 Pakistan shut down Facebook for nearly two weeks over its hosting of allegedly blasphemous pages. It continues to restrict thousands of online links. - AFP
Key Points
- YouTube's localized version launched in Pakistan.
- Ban imposed since 2012 could be reconsidered.
- Content can be moderated per government requests.
- Pakistanis often use proxies to access YouTube.
- Blasphemy remains a sensitive issue in Pakistan.
Ask AI: Understand this story your way
AI EnabledDig deeper, ask anything — get instant context, background, and clarity.
Disclaimer: This feature is powered by AI and is intended to help readers explore and understand news stories more easily. While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated responses may occasionally be incomplete or reflect limitations in the underlying model. This feature does not represent the editorial views of JournalismPakistan. For our full, verified reporting, please refer to the original article.
