PTA Blocks Access to Over 1 Million Websites and 140 Mobile Phone Apps

In the recent news, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked access to over one million websites and 140 mobile phone apps that have been employed in various unlawful/objectionable activities. Its documents indicated that a reserved Monitoring Cell has been installed at the PTA Headquarters to track online content and to resolve objections from the general public and government organizations.

PTA URL Blocking By Category

PTA Block Access to Several Websites and Mobile Phone Apps

The PTA remarked that concerning the enormous volume of content being uploaded on digital media, a multi-pronged strategy should be devised to minimize the uploading of unlawful content on various websites, mobile phone apps, and other platforms.

The following actions are planned to be taken in this regard:

• Registration of significant Social Media (SM) platforms in line with Rule 7(6) of the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight, and Safeguards) Rules, 2021.
• Conducting special sessions with moderation groups of SM platforms, particularly concerning sensitivity. (sacrilegious/sectarian) content that can lead to real-world harm.
• Producing short videos (15 to 30 seconds) about the safe, reliable, legitimate, and effective use of the Internet/SM. The videos will be distributed through electronic and social media for public awareness.
• Hosting seminars and training sessions in institutes and judicial academies to familiarize students and the judicial fraternity regarding the challenges posed by SM.

PTA Has Conducted 53 Raids in the Last Years 

PTA further executed 53 raids in the last three years to eliminate illegal telecom structures and grey telephony, which directed to the seizure of 163 illegal gateways and 35 arrests which were based on unlawful content on websites and mobile phone apps.

Read more: PTA Refuses to Block Cryptocurrency Websites

Source: Pro Pakistani