Google/YouTube has conditionally agreed to launch localized version
of YouTube in Pakistan that will work in-line with local authorities to
block blasphemous content with-in Pakistani borders,
reported Dawn.com.
Citing the Minister for IT and Telecom, Ms. Anusha Rehman, the paper
said that this new arrangement will give birth to YouTube.com.pk or
YouTube.PK, a local version of YouTube in Pakistan.
Ms. Rehman was cited as saying that government of Pakistan has
succeeded in convincing the Google management about religious
sensitivities of Pakistanis.
She was explaining the situation to a Standing Committee of Senate yesterday.
Anusha Rehman further unveiled that Google wants not to be held
responsible for any blasphemous content uploaded on its sites as that
will be a personal action of the individual. Google, however, will work
closely with government of Pakistan to get any such blasphemous content
blocked in Pakistan.
Google, according to the minister, has asked Government’s guarantee
in this regard, for which a detailed draft is being prepared by Pakistan
Telecommunication Authority.
Anusha said that this draft ordinance – after finalization — will be processed by the ministry for enactment as law.
After this localized version of YouTube, Ms. Rehman further
explained, Pakistan won’t require any costly filtration mechanisms.
Instead Google will easily be able to block blasphemous content on the
request of the Pakistan government.
“Saudi Arabia and Malaysia have also reached a similar arrangement with Google,” Anusha Rehman said.
Localising YouTube would also mean that Google will not be violating
its own company law of hindering freedom of expression, the state
minister explained.
Responding to a question from the members, the minister said she could not give an exact date for the re-opening of YouTube.
It maybe recalled that YouTube is banned in Pakistan since September 17th, 2012 for not blocking blasphemous content in Pakistan.