Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Blocks 452 Links of Blasphemous Netflix Content

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Blocks 452 Links of Blasphemous Netflix Content
Islamabad High Court Reviews Action against Offensive Movie
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) reported to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday that it has blocked 452 out of 778 links containing blasphemous material related to a Netflix film. The court was hearing a petition demanding action against the controversial content.

Court Satisfied with Initial Report, Further Review Requested
Justice Aamer Farooq presided over the session, where the PTA presented a detailed compliance report. The authority stated it identified 778 URLs hosting the problematic content and successfully blocked access to 452 of them. The PTA assured the court that it continues to monitor and block additional links if the content appears on other platforms.
While the court expressed satisfaction with the PTA’s progress, the petitioner’s legal counsel urged the court to keep the case active, requesting an updated report in the future.

Steps to Regulate Digital Platforms in Pakistan
In a previous hearing, PTA highlighted its efforts to ensure stricter digital content regulation. The authority has proposed measures requiring major social media platforms such as Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter to establish local offices in Pakistan within six months.

PTA argued that having these platforms operate under local jurisdiction would enable the enforcement of stricter content moderation policies. Furthermore, the authority suggested permanently banning Netflix for distributing sacrilegious content.

PTA’s Efforts to Combat Online Offensive Content
The PTA revealed that it had asked Netflix to remove the film’s trailer from its platform. The authority also committed to engaging with websites that host similar content, requesting immediate takedowns.
The court instructed the PTA to submit a follow-up report within two weeks, outlining further developments in its content-blocking efforts. The matter has been adjourned for the time being, with the IHC expected to review updated measures at the next hearing.

Implications for Digital Regulations in Pakistan
This case underscores the growing focus on regulating online platforms in Pakistan. By pushing for local offices of global tech giants, authorities aim to strengthen oversight, enforce laws effectively, and prevent the dissemination of offensive material.

Stay tuned for updates on this significant development in digital regulation and online content management.


Keywords:
Blasphemous content
Digital regulations in Pakistan