Pakistan Warns Social Media Platforms: Cooperate or Face Consequences
Pakistan has issued a warning to social media platforms, urging them to cooperate with the government on regulations or face consequences similar to Brazil's strict enforcement model. State Minister for Law Barrister Aqeel Malik emphasized the potential for blocking platforms and imposing fines if necessary. The government may even consider seeking intervention from the International Court of Justice. This comes in light of a recent ruling by the Brazil Supreme Court holding social media companies accountable for certain user-generated content. The government criticized the platforms for their inconsistent approach, highlighting the removal of content related to Palestine while withholding IP addresses for terrorist accounts.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry reiterated the government's call for social media platforms to establish offices in Pakistan to address concerns about terrorist activities on their platforms. He questioned the platforms' priorities, emphasizing the need for AI-based technology to automatically detect and remove accounts and content associated with terrorism. The government has been cracking down on anti-state campaigns on social media, with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) actively identifying and prosecuting individuals spreading anti-state propaganda online. As of September 13, the NCCIA had registered 356 FIRs and initiated 789 enquiries against suspects involved in posting content targeting state institutions.