Times of Pakistan - Latest Pakistan News, Pakistan News Online, Pakistani Newspaper, Pakistan News Today Times of Pakistan - Latest Pakistan News, Pakistan News Online, Pakistani Newspaper, Pakistan News Today
  • World
  • Pakistan
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Science
  • Opinions
  • Blogs
  • Letters
Reading: Invoking its “sacrilegious” content, Pakistan censors Wikipedia
Share
Aa
Times of Pakistan
Search
  • World
  • Pakistan
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Science
  • Opinions
  • Blogs
  • Letters
Follow US
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact us
PakistanTechnology

Invoking its “sacrilegious” content, Pakistan censors Wikipedia

Pakistan has restricted Wikipedia because it contains "blasphemous content" the free online encyclopaedia received a 48-hour deadline to remove some content; the decision was made and revealed on Saturday.

News Desk
By News Desk Published February 5, 2023
Share
wikipedia
Image Credits: Wired

The latest blow to digital freedom in the conservative country is the blocking of Wikipedia in Pakistan after officials restricted the website from carrying “blasphemous content.”

According to Malahat Obaid, a spokeswoman for the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, the online encyclopaedia was shut down nationwide on Friday “after it failed to reply to our repeated correspondence over the removal of the blasphemous information and meet the deadline.”

Due to content considered offensive, a sensitive subject in Pakistan, a country with a majority of Muslims, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has previously blocked social media giants Facebook and YouTube. Their exclusion was revoked.

Without going into detail about the problematic information, the PTA stated on Wednesday that the website has until late Friday to heed the warning.

“PTA has degraded Wikipedia services in the country on account of not blocking/removing sacrilegious contents,” the authority claimed.

Wikipedia has been blocked in Pakistan.

Today, Pakistan’s Telecommunications Authority blocked @Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects in the country.

Follow the thread for more information 🧵⬇️ (1/4)https://t.co/8xM73if9B2

— Wikimedia Foundation (@Wikimedia) February 4, 2023

According to free speech activists, a determined push to establish tighter control over online information has sparked concerns about the move.

Usama Khilji, a digital rights proponent, argued, “The main purpose is to silence any dissent.”

On social media, Pakistanis also criticised the decision as being “regressive” and damaging the country’s international reputation.

The gradual restriction and control of Pakistan’s internet, printed media, and electronic media by the government has long been criticised by proponents of free expression.

In response to a movie about the Prophet Muhammad that sparked violent demonstrations throughout the Muslim world, Pakistan prohibited YouTube from 2012 until 2016.

The demand to immediately prevent all videos that Pakistani authorities deemed “objectionable” from being accessed in the nation in 2020 was criticised by rights activists.

Due to its enormously popular TikTok video-sharing app’s “indecent” and “immoral” content, the nation has also recently prohibited it multiple times.

TAGGED: blasphemous content on wikipedia, pakistan wikipedia, wikipedia, wikipedia ban in pakistan
By News Desk
The author is the news desk team.
Previous Article user can challenge account suspension Users can challenge account suspensions, says Twitter
Next Article inflation in pakistan Inflation reaches its highest level of 31.5 % in 50 years
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More Latest News

us
More than anticipated, US firms added 311000 jobs in February
World Economy
After nearly 7 years
After nearly 7 years of antagonism, Middle Eastern adversaries, Iran and Saudi Arabia decided to resume ties
World Politics
sardar
Sardar Khetran awarded bail in triple homicide case involving Barkhan
Pakistan
Imran khan arrest
In connection with comments made against state institutions, BHC suspends Imran’s arrest warrants
Pakistan Politics
president xi jin ping
Xi wins a third term as president despite numerous obstacles
World Politics
Times of Pakistan - Latest Pakistan News, Pakistan News Online, Pakistani Newspaper, Pakistan News Today Times of Pakistan - Latest Pakistan News, Pakistan News Online, Pakistani Newspaper, Pakistan News Today
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact us
  • ٹائمز آف پاکستان اردو
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact us

© 2002-2022 TIMES OF PAKISTAN (PRIVATE) LIMITED
This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?