Pakistan Telecommunication Authority asks YouTube to block objectionable content

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) 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, and PTA declined to speak about the authority´s next step if YouTube does not comply.

Read also: Last YouTube ban caused Pakistanis an estimated loss of Rs. 9 bn; a new ban could be even worse

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 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 criticise the latest PTA demand.

Source: The News