The Government has finalized to Redefine Pakistan’s Digital Landscape.

[HaMoTZeMaS]

Time to hear the MomBatti & HumanBRights Mafia$$ crying in blood.

While the government primarily wants to “curb blasphemous content from social media”, the rules will also allow it to control "all online content" in the country.

The new rules (called the Citizens Protection Against Online Harm Rules) are additions to existing legislation like the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and will allow the government to bypass industry stakeholders and only require Federal Cabinet approval.
Most possibly Federal Cabinet approval has already been granted.

While the document ( courtesy of Digital Rights Monitor) talks about social media companies, the definition for “social media companies” is broad enough to bring any company with an online presence under its ambit.

If companies don’t abide by any of the rules in the 14-page document, they’ll be blocked in Pakistan.

Here’s a summarized version of the most drastic changes proposed by the government.

• A National Coordinator (NC) to be setup "within 15 Days"
• Register with Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) within 3 months.
• Establish an office in Pakistan with a physical address in Islamabad within 3 months.
• Appoint a focal person to deal with the Authority and NC within 3 months.
• Add servers in Pakistan within 12 months.
• Strict Control over Content

Concerningly, MoIT or NC’s interpretation of rules and laws will take precedence over community standards, rules, community guidelines or policies of platforms like Facebook, Twitter and others.​

The Ministry of Information and Telecommunications or the National Coordinator can ask any social media company to remove, suspend or disable access to such content within 24 hours. Urgent situations will require action within 6 hours.

Furthermore, if companies get a notification that certain content is false (with the ability to judge the veracity of the content resting only with the NC and the Authority itself), they’ll have to put a note alongside the content which states exactly that.​

• Strict Control over Content

Companies will be required to provide any requested information in a “decrypted, readable and comprehensible format or plain version,” bypassing the legal process currently outlined in PECA.

https://propakistani.pk/2020/02/12/govt-to-implement-new-rules-to-control-digital-media-in-pakistan/

 

[Path-Finder]

5G this year! that must be a priority.

 

[Sine Nomine]

That's much needed step in right direction.

 

[Lincoln]

Bad decision. North Korean law in the making. It will be well exploited to enforce strict control, censor, and silence criticism, or completely vanish leaks and valid news.

 

[SilentAssassin]

Bad decision. North Korean law in the making. It will be well exploited to enforce strict control, censor, and silence criticism, or completely vanish leaks and valid news.

This kind of law was much needed. And I don't agree with that valid news will completely vanish. In fact, all the propaganda and fake news will be controlled, as well as security agencies will have access to investigate criminal activities. All the uncertainty, fake news, spitting venom against our country to destabilize it in every possible way was being done over these social media platforms.

 

[Lincoln]

This kind of law was much needed. And I don't agree with that valid news will completely vanish. In fact, all the propaganda and fake news will be controlled, as well as security agencies will have access to investigate criminal activities. All the uncertainty, fake news, spitting venom against our country to destabilize it in every possible way was being done over these social media platforms.

You fight fake news, propaganda with proof. As for criminal activities, you don't need this law, it's legal basis is already there and companies completely cooperate when it comes to criminal content.

Watch how they exploit this law, it's vague and lacks specifics for a reason, so that it can be exploited.

Stuff like escape of Ehsanullah wouldn't have reached us if this law was already in place.

This kind of law was much needed. And I don't agree with that valid news will completely vanish. In fact, all the propaganda and fake news will be controlled, as well as security agencies will have access to investigate criminal activities. All the uncertainty, fake news, spitting venom against our country to destabilize it in every possible way was being done over these social media platforms.

When these companies refuse to remove content which pinches the Government and Army under the pretext of "propaganda," they will likely get banned. So no more YouTube, I guess. Or any other social media website.

 

[HaMoTZeMaS]

You fight fake news, propaganda with proof. As for criminal activities, you don't need this law, it's legal basis is already there and companies completely cooperate when it comes to criminal content.

Watch how they exploit this law, it's vague and lacks specifics for a reason, so that it can be exploited.

Stuff like escape of Ehsanullah wouldn't have reached us if this law was already in place.



When these companies refuse to remove content which pinches the Government and Army under the pretext of "propaganda," they will likely get banned. So no more YouTube, I guess. Or any other social media website.

Pakistan is a considerably huge market for online content. I dont think they will sacrifice this much economic chunk just for sake of few offshoots.
In my understanding, They must and will comply.

 

[Lincoln]

Pakistan is a considerably huge market for online content. I dont think they will sacrifice this much economic chunk just for sake of few offshoots.
In my understanding, They must and will comply.

Pakistan really isn't a big market for online content. Remember when Youtube was banned? What did Youtube do, give zero fucks, it didn't hurt them or their revenue.

Pakistan is a considerably huge market for online content. I dont think they will sacrifice this much economic chunk just for sake of few offshoots.
In my understanding, They must and will comply.

If they don't follow in on their policy, then that hurts their company in the market and also their investors. For a country like Pakistan which contributes little to the mainstream popular media in the world, which is also rhe source of major revenue for them, they would be more effected if they were to bypass their policy then if they were to simply let go of Pakistan and be banned here.

 

[Pakistan Ka Beta]

V v v good decision n was much needed .

 

[Counter-Errorist]

You fight fake news, propaganda with proof.

That only works if you have a highly educated populace. Even a large percentage of the US is susceptible to fake news and propaganda, as we've seen with Trump supporters. And even with a highly educated population, propaganda has visible effects. We are imperfect beings, propaganda seeks to exploit our imperfections to further their agenda. The only way to limit effects of foreign propaganda is to limit exposure to it.

Having said that, these laws are very easily exploited for personal gains. Imagine if PTI now, or PPP or PML-N later decides that any criticism of their party is a punishable offense?

 

[Xestan]

This is a dangerous step, the law has the potential to be misused for politics and to curb dissenting voices. Governments will come and go, and every regime will use the law to suit its own political agenda. PTI should remember that the freedom on social media helped it come to power, it can also be used against them in the future. This is an attack on freedom of expression.

 

[War Thunder]

5G this year! that must be a priority.

Too eager for the disease?

https://www.takebackyourpower.net/s...dustry-confesses-no-studies-showing-5g-safety

 

[Chakar The Great]

Poor decision making.

 

[WebMaster]

India already does this and gets Pakistani users banned on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

 

[Lincoln]

India already does this and gets Pakistani users banned on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

India has the advantage of having a regional centre of twitter in India. They're able to get away with it.