MM News

ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan have blocked Wikipedia after the platform failed to remove “sacrilegious” content.

The action was taken because some of the content is still available on Wikipedia after the expiry of a 48-hour deadline, Malahat Obaid, spokesperson for Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) told media. However, it’s not currently clear what Wikipedia is being asked to remove.

On February 1, PTA degraded Wikipedia services in the country on account of not blocking / removing sacrilegious contents. Taking to Twitter, the PTA said “Wikipedia was approached for blocking/removal of the said contents by issuing a notice under applicable law & court order(s). An opportunity of hearing was also provided, however, the platform neither complied by removing the blasphemous content nor appeared before the Authority.”

Wikipedia was approached for blocking/removal of the said contents by issuing a notice under applicable law & court order(s). An opportunity of hearing was also provided, however, the platform neither complied by removing the blasphemous content nor appeared before the Authority. pic.twitter.com/6dWRcbxHGB

— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) February 1, 2023

The restoration of the services of Wikipedia will be reconsidered subject to removal of the reported unlawful content, the regulator said.

Interestingly, Wikipedia has an article on ‘Censorship of Wikipedia’. It mentions that a similar Wikipedia ban has occurred in countries including China, Iran, Myanmar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela.