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“We're very glad Twitter has reversed its decision and not gone the Facebook route,“ said Sana Saleem, a co-founder of Bolo Bhi. — Photo by AFP
ISLAMABAD: Twitter has restored access inside Pakistan to dozens of tweets and accounts, after blocking them last month following official complaints about “blasphemous” content, in a move hailed by free speech activists.
The microblogging site said it had changed its May 18 decision — to restrict access to the material from within Pakistan in order to comply with local laws — after the government failed to provide sufficient clarification.
“On May 18, 2014, we made an initial decision to withhold content in Pakistan based on information provided to us by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority,” the Internet company said in a statement posted on the Chilling Effects Clearinghouse website.
“We have re-examined the requests and, in the absence of additional clarifying information from Pakistani authorities, have determined that restoration of the previously withheld content is warranted. The content is now available again in Pakistan.
“Chilling Effects is a collaboration between several US law schools which monitors attempts to suppress online content. Twitter works in partnership with the site to publicise requests to withhold its content.
Most of the offending material concerned anti-Islam accounts, but the accounts of three US porn stars were also listed.
Sana Saleem, a co-founder of the Bolo Bhi non-profit group that advocates free speech, said: “We're very glad Twitter has reversed its decision and not gone the Facebook route.
“There was significant pressure and so we're very happy. We've also been talking with them.“
Facebook earlier this month blocked the popular page of a liberal Pakistani band Laal at the request of the government, angering activists campaigning against censorship. Days later it reversed its decision.
Saleem and other organisations have questioned whether the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has the constitutional authority to forward such requests to foreign Internet companies, and have called for greater judicial oversight.
She added that the process was open to abuse and was used to suppress political criticism.
“We have an extremely weak legal framework and it's used to limit dissent, or things like blocking Wikipedia pages on breast cancer. “
Comments (4) Closed
Only the day muslims start ignoring blasphemous comments or use them as constructive criticism for reforming what has gone wrong, they will be able to leave in peace with themselves and with others. Threatening or filtering others' point of view is typically a sign of insecurity and lack of self confidence. Imagine if in a company challenging CEO's thoughts was a blasphemy -Then over time such companies are bound to perish and not change/innovate. Vigorous intellectual debate is what lays a strong foundation for anything so why be afraid of it.
I hope the religious zealots and illiterate mullahs, who probably don't know even what Twitter is, let alone understanding the said tweet, don't kill innocent people and/or take away lively hood of poor people by destroying their shop-carts.
People need to grow up and know that not everyone is going to be respectful of your beliefs and practices. Stop chasing down everyone who is disrespectful and move on with your lives and beliefs and try to live your life by example, if you believe your faith is so righteous.
Terrorizing people or organization only encourages others to take a shot at you.
Soon some mullah will issue a fatwa against use of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Viber, WhatsApp etc ....after all they are all made by Zionist...isnt it?