Global tech giants threaten to leave Pakistan over new rules
Global tech giants threaten to leave Pakistan over new rules
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Internet and technology companies have threatened to leave Pakistan after the government granted blanket powers to authorities to censor digital content, a move critics say was aimed at curtailing freedom of expression in the country.
Thursday’s warning from the Asia Internet Coalition, which represents global technology giants including Google, Facebook and Twitter, comes after the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan granted enhanced powers to government media regulators Wednesday.
The coalition said it was “alarmed by the scope of Pakistan’s new law targeting internet companies, as well as the government’s opaque process by which these rules were developed.”
Under the new regulations, social media companies or internet service providers face a fine of up to $3.14 million for failure to curb the sharing of the banned content.
Social media companies are required to provide Pakistan’s designated investigation agency “with any information or data in decrypted, readable and comprehensible format”. Pakistan also wants the social media companies to have their offices in the country.
