It is impossible for Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to fully block all objectionable material available on YouTube.
This was said by Anusha Rehman, minister of state for Information Technology and Telecom, while replying to a question in Senate today, reported APP the state owned news agency.
Minister said that there’s no mechanism or technology available with anyone in the world that could cent percent guarantee the blockade of objectionable videos on YouTube.
She explained that YouTube was blocked on directions of Supreme Court of Pakistan as the apex court had ordered the telecom regulator to ensure the hundred percent blocking of objectionable content on Google’s video sharing website.
Since PTA hadn’t the ability to block the entire list of objectionable videos, especially those copies that were replicated by users on the website in real time, regulator to block the access of website in Pakistan.
She said that PTA, after blocking the website, had submitted a compliance report with the court.
Anusha said that after two and half years the situation remains the same. She explained that 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.
Anusha was quoted as saying:
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”.
It won’t be out of place to mention that Google, once, had agreed to localize YouTube in Pakistan through YouTube.PK however, it wanted the government of Pakistan to enact Intermediary Liability Protection before getting local in Pakistan.