Minister of State for Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunications Anusha Rahman Khan warned on Saturday that Google could also be banned in Pakistan if it did not remove objectionable and blasphemous content which led to the ban on YouTube.
She passed this statement on her first day in office while referring to a YouTube ban that was levied on the video-sharing website after it hosted clips from the controversial film, “Innocence of Muslims”. It sparked violent protests across the country, leading to a nine-month ban on the website that remains in effect.
Google, the parent company of YouTube, has persisted in its stance of not removing content the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led government thought was objectionable.
Khan stated that she hoped Google might be more willing to lend the new Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government an ear.
“It all depends on our negotiation clout. If they persist with their stance, we can block Google in Pakistan as a last resort as there are many alternative search engines available on the web,” she reportedly said.
The PPP-led government had earlier sanctioned a day of protests in September last year after “Innocence of Muslims” triggered a series of violent protests by conservative groups across Pakistan.
The PML-N government has stated that the restoration of YouTube with filters in place to screen objectionable and blasphemous content would be one of its priorities.
Khan added that the IT ministry could have done a better job of devising a filtration system during the past nine months.
“Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) is just an enforcement body. Our ministry is responsible for policy decisions, so it’s our job to ensure reopening of YouTube as soon as possible with thorough screening of objectionable material. I will immediately start work on it after a presentation by ministry officials on Monday,” said the new minister.
The government is set to make all efforts needed to actualise a proper filtration system to reopen YouTube.
“We will pump in extra money if needed and do whatever is in our capacity to bring YouTube back to Pakistan without compromising our ethical values,” the IT minister said.
Google will be requested to either remove the objectionable content or at least ensure that it’s not viewable in Pakistan, she added.
“We cannot face the embarrassment of opening the website and closing it again after protests. We have to ensure that a proper filtration system is in place before we open the website,” she added.
IT minister hints at banning Google
