The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) informed the Sindh High Court that over 1.25 million web addresses have been blocked for sharing objectionable content. Out of these, nearly 1 million were blocked for immoral content, 90,980 for content against Islam, 84,130 for national security, and others for various reasons. The PTA submitted this response in a plea against objectionable content on social media platforms.
Specific details included that Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms had links blocked for objectionable content. The PTA has records of around 1.34 million web addresses, with some URLs still accessible and some requests for blocking rejected.
This response was given in a petition filed by YouTube content creators to stop the uploading of objectionable content on social media platforms. The PTA claimed to have blocked Instagram and YouTube URLs under the Electronic Crimes Act, questioning the continuation of the petition as the petitioners had not approached them with their concerns.
The court adjourned the hearing until May 15, as more statements from relevant officials were sought. The PTA was directed earlier to establish rules to prevent and remove objectionable content from social media platforms, which the petitioners’ counsel argued should be promptly enforced.
