ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has issued notices to Google and Wikipedia on the issue of spreading blasphemous content through the platforms.
The PTA’s move is the result of complaints from the Ahmadiyya community about the uploading of an unauthenticated version of the Koran on the Google Play Store and misleading search results about the “current Caliph of Islam”. In light of the seriousness of the matter, the PTA contacted Google and directed that such illegal content be removed immediately.
These notices issued to the respective platforms have been issued under the Removal and Blocking of Illegal Online Content (Procedures, Surveillance and Safety Measures) Rules 2020 to immediately remove blasphemous content to avoid any legal action by the regulator. To be given
Complaints have also been received about the presence of blasphemous sketches of the Prophet of Islam and misleading, inaccurate, deceptive and fraudulent information through articles published on Wikipedia in which Mirza Masroor Ahmed was portrayed as a Muslim. After extensive deliberations on the matter, a notice was issued to Wikipedia to remove the blasphemous content immediately, avoiding any legal action.
A statement issued by the PTA said that in case of non-compliance by the concerned platforms, the PTA could take further action under the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2016 (PECA) and Rules 2020.
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