PTA has blocked 47674 URLs related to Sectarian/Hate Speech till date

Under section 37 (1) of PECA Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (“PECA”), the Authority has been empowered to remove or block or issue directions for removal or blocking of access to an information through any information system if it considers it necessary in the interest of glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan or any part thereof, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court or commission of or incitement to an offense under PECA.

Under section 37 (2) of PECA, the federal government has approved the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguard), Rules, 2021 (“Rules”). The same have been gazette notified on October 13, 2021.

The said rules provide for safeguards, process and mechanism for exercise of powers by the Authority under PECA for removal of or blocking access to unlawful Online Content through any information system.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) till date has processed 59,253 URLs related to Sectarian/Hate Speech (Complaints based as well as proactive search wherever required) for blocking.

The details of the links processed in this regard are given below:

Note: The above information/data was shared with the Senate on March 31, 2023 by the Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Syed Amin-ul-Haque.