Facebook, Twitter, Google threaten to suspend services in Pakistan

A coalition comprising digital media giants Google, Facebook & Twitter (among others) have spoken out against the new regulations approved by the Govt. of Pakistan for social media, warning to suspend services in the nation if the rules weren't revised, it was reported.

On Friday, the news agency reported that in a letter to PM of Pakistan, Imran Khan earlier this month, the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) called on his Govt to revise the new sets of rules & regulations for social media.

Referring to the Citizens Protection Rules (Against Online Harm), the letter said that “The rules as currently written would make it extremely difficult for AIC members to make their services available to Pakistani users & businesses".

The new set of regulations makes it necessary for social media companies to open offices in Islamabad, build data servers to store information & take down content upon identification by authorities.

Failure to comply with the authorities in Pakistan will result in heavy fines & possible termination of services.

It said that the regulations were causing “international companies to re-evaluate their view of the regulatory environment in Pakistan, & their willingness to operate in the country.”

Referring to the rules as “vague & arbitrary in nature”, the AIC said that it was forcing them to go against established norms of user privacy & freedom of expression.

The news agency quoted the letter as saying, “We are not against regulation of social media, & we acknowledge that Pakistan already has an extensive legislative framework governing online content. However, these rules fail to address crucial issues such as internationally recognised rights to individual expression & privacy".

According to the law, authorities will be able to take action against Pakistanis found guilty of targeting state institutions at home & abroad on social media.

The law will also help the law enforcement authorities obtain access to data of accounts found involved in suspicious activities.

It would be the said authority’s prerogative to identify objectionable content to the social media platforms to be taken down.

In case of failure to comply within fifteen days, it would have the power to suspend their services or impose a fine worth up to 500 million Pakistani rupees ($3 million).

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