Ahmed Mukhtar Naqshbandi
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Wednesday imposed a 48-hour access ban on Wikipedia, the “encyclopedia of the internet.”
According to the authority, the free online encyclopedia hosted “illegal content.” PTA acknowledged blocking the website in a tweet on Wednesday and stated that it would only consider restoring its services if illegal information was blocked or removed. The PTA didn’t identify which contents it considered illegal and needed to be blocked.
According to the authorities, PTA is committed to providing a safe internet experience for all Pakistani citizens by local laws. The PTA further asserted that Wikipedia was given a “full chance” to delete the illegal content, but it decided not to do so.
Subsequently, PTA then restricted website access for 47 hours.
Wikipedia may be blocked permanently: PTA.
According to PTA, if Wikipedia does not remove or block illegal content as directed, it may risk a permanent block in Pakistan.
It has been clarified, however, that the PTA will consider eliminating limitations on Wikipedia only after compliance with the PTA’s directions.
