Impossible to block all objectionable content on YouTube, admits Anusha

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information Technology, Anusha Rehman on Friday informed the Senate that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) does not have the technology to block all objectionable content on YouTube.

Replying to questions in the upper house of Parliament, she said that no mechanism exists anywhere in the world to block 100 per cent objectionable content.

Rehman said that on September 17, 2012, the Supreme Court had ordered the PTA to block offensive material on YouTube and all other websites.

The minister said since there was no technical solution available to block 100 per cent objectionable material, that’s why the YouTube was blocked by the PTA and a compliance report was submitted to the court.

The minister said the matter was reviewed several times but the situation effectively remains the same. Technical experts are of the view that there is no technical solution available which can guarantee 100 per cent blocking of the objectionable content on YouTube.

She said that, “As an alternative measure, the government is in process of providing Intermediary Liability Protection for internet content providers through Prevention of Electronic Crime Bill 2014 which will then be a consideration for localisation of YouTube in Pakistan subject to it being a business case for Google Thus this in itself will not guarantee access to YouTube in Pakistan”.

Anusha Rehman further said that impediments are present in blasphemous movie Innocence of Muslims on YouTube as non availability of technical solution to block the secured objectionable content with 100 per cent effectiveness and orders of the Supreme Court are still effective.