Internet companies have yet again pushed back against Pakistan’s amended social media rules. AFP/File
INTERNET companies have yet again pushed back against Pakistan’s amended social media rules, noting that the most problematic provisions remain unchanged in the latest draft that they say has in fact “regressed” in comparison with previous versions.
The third version of the social media rules, titled the ‘Removal of Unlawful Online Content Rules 2021’ was published by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) earlier this month.
“The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) and its member companies are disappointed with the proposed revisions,” said AIC Managing Director Jeff Paine over email with
Social media rules: Pakistan's amended social media rules fuel tensions with internet companies indiatimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from indiatimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Pak's amended social media rules again fuel tensions pakistantelegraph.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from pakistantelegraph.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Government's revised internet rules fuel tension with technology firms | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) pakistanpressfoundation.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from pakistanpressfoundation.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
In Pakistan, attempts to control media are triumphing over efforts to protect the free press
The country has proposed to regulate print, television, electronic and digital media by merging all different regulators into one. Representational image. | Rizwan Tabassum/ AFP Photo
Yet another attempt to bring all mediums of speech in Pakistan under state control has come to the fore, as the country’s Federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a draft ordinance titled the Pakistan Media Development Authority. It is important to analyse the ordinance based on its content, as well as the intent of the state based on recent attempts to control speech and press in the country.