Discouraging harm

Undoubtedly, the most critical challenge Pakistan is facing to safeguard the ideological borders in the 21st century is in the form of the misuse of social media.

I think the Ministry of Interior has correctly identified the ground facts in its report submitted before the Supreme Court of Pakistan. That there was a genuine risk of riots and anarchy on Election Day (Feb 8) due to the misuse of social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) by some extremist elements is plausible.

Ten years ago, in 2014, during a hearing before then-CJP Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani on the issue of protection of the rights of non-Muslim minorities, I emphasized the need to control the dissemination of hateful content in order to maintain peace in Pakistan.

Similarly, after the Army Public School tragedy, when a national action plan was prepared to curb terrorism throughout the country, I demanded the prevention of hate content on social media.

In 2017, in my weekly column published in these pages, I presented my in-depth analysis that evil elements have got such a powerful weapon in the form of social media, which is allowing them to target every sensible person who disagrees with their negative agenda.

There are frequent reports appearing on international media that there is a direct link between social media and hate crimes, which is why the pressure on Facebook, YouTube and X management from the international community to curb negative views on the internet is increasing day by day.

I suggested seven years ago that the use of social media in Pakistan should be linked to SIM cards, and the government should make it mandatory for all news website owners and bloggers to publish their contact details on the website. The role of editor and fact checking should be strengthened in all media organizations.

Today, no one can deny the fact that social media is being used by anti-social elements in a systematic manner to spread hatred against opponents, and the use of foul language on Pakistani social media platforms is increasing. In such a critical situation, the government has no choice but to ban X completely.

I highlighted in my column published last month on March 21 that the parliament of Canada has introduced the Online Harm Act to combat extremism and violent terrorism through internet-based social media content. The Digital Safety Commission of Canada is being established under the said act. Similarly, in various countries including South Korea and China, it is necessary to provide real identity to use the internet.

Under the Great Firewall of China, no external force or local facilitator is allowed to create panic on social media. In Japan last year, a government minister proposed to introduce a SIM card authentication process for internet services to ensure the positive use of social media.

In my view, all kinds of internet services in Pakistan should be made subject to mobile number verification code, and in the next phase, social media organizations should be convinced to establish their offices in Pakistan. Anonymous websites operated from foreign countries should be blocked for not revealing their identity and action should be taken at the diplomatic level against those foreign entities involved in anti-Pakistan propaganda.

If we want to move Pakistan along with developed countries, we have to look at international countries to analyze their efforts for ensuring responsible social media in their respective societies.

Today, when the international community is determined to maintain a pleasant environment through responsible use of social media, it is our national responsibility to support the efforts of the government of Pakistan for curbing the misuse of social media as well as safeguarding people from online harm in the best interest of our beloved country.

The writer is a member of the National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council.

He tweets/posts @RVankwani