SC hints at banning YouTube in Pakistan
We are not against freedom of expression: Justice Qazi Amin
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday took notice of objectionable content on social media and YouTube and hinted at shutting down the video sharing platform in the country.
During the hearing, Justice Qazi Amin remarked “we are not against freedom of expression and masses have right to discuss our performance and decisions as we take salaries from public money but constitution also provides us right of personal life but users of social media and YouTube are targeting our families” he said, “Masses are being provoked against country’s army, government and judiciary.”
Justice Qazi Amin further remarked we are showing tolerance but it will run out some day. He also asked Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) if they have checked content on YouTube. He also asked that how many people who were involved in such activities faced action.
The court also hinted at shutting down YouTube in Pakistan. Justice Mushir Alam remarked that no one can share content against United States or Europe on YouTube. He added that there are many countries that have banned the video sharing platform while several countries control social media through local laws.
Earlier Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) blocked Bigo App and warned TikTok for the last and said in a press release that a number of complaints had been received from different segments of the society against immoral, obscene and vulgar content on social media applications particularly TikTok and Bigo, and their extremely negative effects on the society in general and youth in particular.
PTA had issued necessary notices to the aforementioned social media companies under law to moderate the socialization and content within legal and moral limits, in accordance with the laws of the country.
Few weeks ago PTA also banned the famous third person shooter mobile game PlayerUnknown’s Battleground, popularly known as PUBG, in Pakistan over its players’ mental and physical health concerns.
PTA has issued a statement in this regard, saying that numerous complaints were received by the authority against the game, calling it addictive, a waste of time and dangerous for the physical and psychological health of young, impressionable children involved in playing it.
