Pakistan

Google chief suspects ulterior motive in Pakistan

Afp May 22, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO: Google chief executive Eric Schmidt on Friday said he suspects suppressing political criticism is a factor behind the move to block YouTube and Facebook in Pakistan.

"I'm always suspicious of these broad bans," Schmidt told a gathering at non-profit public policy institute New America Foundation, of which he is chairman of the board. "In every case we looked at, there is an official reason then another reason. There is an awful lot of political criticism they are blocking at the same time. I am very suspicious here."

The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) banned access to Facebook, YouTube and more than 450 links, including restricted access to Wikipedia.

A Facebook page that fueled rage and protest in Pakistan was gone from the popular online social networking service on Friday but the popular social networking service said it remained blocked in that country. The Facebook user that organized an "Everyone Draw Mohammed Day" competition to promote "freedom of expression" evidently took down the page along with a separate blog about the campaign.

Despite general anger over the caricatures, the ban on websites has sparked some criticism, particularly among the largely Western-educated elite living and working in the relatively moderate Lahore and Karachi.

COMMENTS (40)

M.Y | 14 years ago | Reply Its good in some way that western internet media is humiliating our religion, this helps us get our identity back (by reacting to such a situation).

Yasser | 14 years ago | Reply has google cheif joined MMA recently ;-)

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Farooq | 14 years ago | Reply Above all why they Band me on FB when i tried to create "Genius of Hitler". So much for the "Freedom of speech". I will be back with " H | T L E R " on FB

Nadeem Khawar | 14 years ago | Reply i m not a mullah neither m i in govt but the thing is i loved the act taken by the Govt. this time, whether its motive was to suppress politcal criticism or in respect of our beloved Prophet (P.B.U.H) i just wanna say one thing to the people who r against this act by the Govt., as a Muslim n follower of MUHAMMAD (P.B.U.H) i can't even see a piece of paper on the ground with his name written on it how can i tolerate this "MUHAMMAD DAY"? And most of the people who are in favor of the ban are neither mullahs nor Govt. officals because more than 50% of the users of facebook in pakistan are youth the student.they are the one who are opposing this act by facebook and i m the example.

farman | 14 years ago | Reply the facebook administration must think, whether their site is for social networking or hurting the muslims. You can not allow anyone to hurt almost a billion of muslims at the name of "freedom of expression".

Bangash | 14 years ago | Reply I also think the ban has more to do with Mr Musharraf's activity on Facebook, which he is using as a political platform, and the readily available text/audio/video content that is troublesome for politicians and others that are in power right now. Pakistani awam of course can jump up and down in their amazing accomplishment of having banned some websites which are freely available in the rest of the planet.

saad baig | 14 years ago | Reply Very interesting comments from both side, those who need facebook to disclose govt corruption, y can't we do it on other forum. Take boycott issue this way, we did try our best on facebook to encounter THAT page, even after having millions of complains, facebook didn't shut that page which was even against its own t&c for not promoting violence n racism but they let the event go under their nose, after 20th may page went off itself. I've closed my account myself as I can LIVE without facebook. Please wake up and don't make urself depended of worldly things, Umaah need to unite n stop being hypocrite. Purpose of muslims life is to live as Allah want not as what we desire, as we don't know what's good for us. Guidance is prophets way

Calculating_Misfit | 14 years ago | Reply @Farigh "A page that is against there own terms and condition, thousands complained against it as a hate page, still its intact." What Facebook terms and conditions did this page violate?

Calculating_Misfit | 14 years ago | Reply @Mubasher "Do one thing guys put a picture of osma bin laden with Obama, Queen Elizabeth, Sarkozi, Angela Merkel and other presidents and prime ministers of Christian countries and watch the reaction you will be completely amazed." I seriously there would be any reaction. People have portrayed Bush and Obama as Hitler before and no one said anything.

Sheraz Javeed | 14 years ago | Reply In reference to Google cheif and some others who commented in favor to reopen the restricted webpages i would like to share the only comments that "every thing in the whole universe has a limit". If anyone tries to across beyond the limits that will be resulted in disaster so those who say that freedom of expression is unlimited or sacreligious contents should be tolerated in vast view of Islam is nothing else inviting disasters to Nation's value and dignity.

Tanzeel | 14 years ago | Reply We Pakistanis at one side want FB ban and on the other side look for proxy sites to access it. Interesting people we are!!!

Farigh | 14 years ago | Reply Why Facebook does not remove the page which spreads hate? Why the double standards? A page that is against there own terms and condition, thousands complained against it as a hate page, still its intact. The ban is, therefore, legitimate. Freedom of speech vanish in air when a topic considered taboo in West is discussed.

Mubasher | 14 years ago | Reply Do one thing guys put a picture of osma bin laden with Obama, Queen Elizabeth, Sarkozi, Angela Merkel and other presidents and prime ministers of Christian countries and watch the reaction you will be completely amazed.try it... and please remember one thing its not about so called freedom of speech its about how non Muslims are always trying to humiliate Muslims.FREEDOM OF SPEECH MUST BE WITH SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Some people say that its mullahas and pakistani government...no its not...I lives in london and I know how Islam is a target by these people. Say a word against Queen in front of Buckingham Palace and tell me what happens. try it before saying anything

Yasir wattoo | 14 years ago | Reply I dont understand that the Facebook, Youtube, ban nudity because some people find it offensive and unappropriate (parituclarly for children)but they allow such content that hurts the heart of milllions fo Muslim around the globe.

Aslam Khan | 14 years ago | Reply Freedom of right does not mean to say any thing about our religion and Prophet(PBUH). There must be limits. We are not ready to tolerate humiliation whatsoever. Ban on FB and UT is right decision. Since they they have started financial loss due the ban, now the owner of these Mischievous and extremely Evil webs are crying.

ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply This is a move to put a complete stop to our social networking. I had this hunch the first day it happened, now i'm deathly afraid of the bans about to come upon our television screens as well. Feels like Pakistan is being isolated from the rest of the world. It doesn't take a genius to get to that conclusion.

Xee | 14 years ago | Reply May be "FREEDOM OF SPEECH" factor affected due to ban on different sites including facebook and YOUTUBE but WHOSE freedom of speech.I think people who are against these sites using the right of freedom , which should also be respected in a same way as rest of the world do for so called "holocaust". I fail to understand why on regular basis we have the same issue from western world, what they are looking for?are they waiting, till what time we will protest against these kinds of activities or they are checking weather muslim world is sleeping or not?If we look at the scenario initially whole muslim world against Sweden and Denmark and ban the their products in their countries now its through internet and what is the strength of protest against facebook. Apart from the political or financial reason, a simple fact that its part of muslim believe and required for the completion of IMAAN that love of Allah and His Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)should be on top of evey kind of love, so whatever rest of the world says or our dear so called enlightened friends talk about, fact remains the same. People who are arguing that religion or Prophet (S.A.W) never stops from learning should consider these kinds of caricature activities for themselves or for their families, i believe it will help them for the clear understanding. Mr. Carl in their comments ask some simple questions, Why its keep coming on islam and why we always have to defend? Instead of apologizing behaviour from west we have to answer that why they dont have a right to humiliate islam or us, isn't absurd and we keep justifying that its not us its just some fanatics or extremist or mullah factor who are protesting against their freedom for humiliation. Why can't we have grab a cet out of this chance to get out from this humiliation cycle.May be IGNORANCE is a bliss but not ALWAYS.

Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply Is " Freedom of expression " confined to Drawings of a personality, This was a dirty move by the Swedish or whoever it was just to check the reaction, and it is rite that PTA has blocked the sites, although through proxy servers it can be viewed but still normal users are unable to check what the Page was about just out of curiosity, Freedom of expression doesn't necessarily mean to Make fun of others religion, And google CEO is unaware of the facts.

Hassan | 14 years ago | Reply First the 'criticizing public figures on sms/email is a criminal offence' tactic was used and now this. This govt is trying the hardest to take us into the stone ages so that their acts can be covered and peoples eyes and ears can be shut. A stupid decision which will not reap any rewards. Instead of going forward and developing faster to catch up with the western world, we are doing eveything possible to go backwards.

nasser | 14 years ago | Reply Who are these guys and girls: RW, SZ, GI, STRAYBIRD, PAKISTANI? Why are you all concealing your identities while you keep mourning the with holding of information? Is this some kind of a rebellion that you are staging, which you apprehend will be used against you? Be brave! please

Straybird | 14 years ago | Reply @Gi I agree that they should have acted faster but then was banning the sites all together was the only solution? Was facebook only about that page alone? Also, what about the 600 other sites that are banned? The problem lies in the rhetoric- if you don't like it, ban it. What good is that going to do to anybody? Also there are Muslims living in other parts of the world too but I don't hear facebook or youtube being banned there. You can see the outrage in your own country against the ban. Pakistani politics is beyond my comprehension but as I said earlier it is only giving a wrong idea about your country. As you know, these politicians have accommodations abroad where they & their children can freely access these sites while the natives are left with the ban. Is that fair?

fahd | 14 years ago | Reply I feel the Gilani government has used this very unfortunate clearly blasphemous event to its advantage, among many, by stiffling Pervez Musharraf's growing popularity with the nation's youth over facebook and youtube.

Gi | 14 years ago | Reply @Straybird I agree to and enjoy freedom of speech and the Pakistani Government has gone out of the way to take my right, but i have a few questions for you - Facebook and YouTube have the "report" button - what is that for and how does it work because it failed to in this instance? As democracy was spectacularly utilized in this protest - according to reports till last count the page for this competition had around 82000 members while the one against it had a separate page with close to 96000 members - who should prevail? If 96000 people reported as hate speech - why did not Facebook act against it? (This is for all the Pakis on the page) This episode opened the door to help start solving the basic problems of Pakistanis - PAY ATTENTION TO ALTERNATIVES!! we have spectacularly failed to utilize alternative methods. YouTube is only one of the hundreds of thousands of video sites. There are other sites like Facebook that offer social networking options and with better privacy (there is a global movement to leave FB on 30 May to protest convoluted privacy and information sharing by FB - also utilized by Mossad in the Dubai assasination) why can we not fore go cane sugar and switch to beetroot sugar in times of shortage? maize flour instead of wheat flour? soy milk for milk?

saqlain sadiq | 14 years ago | Reply I think we are too dumb a nation to even comment on something like this. The point is that the muslim nation is the fastest dumb becoming nation in the world and we all don't even care or we don't even know how to.

nina | 14 years ago | Reply schmidt can say whatever he wants but the fact remains that facebook and youtube are responsible 4 all the blasphemous content posted there and i,one of the pakistani youth, hv no doubt tha the ban decision is absolutely right.we do not want to use any such website whose masters hv such twisted ideas about so called "freedom of opinion". we muslims respect all prophets but many people in the western world hv no regard and respect for any prophet particularly for Muhammad(peace be upon him).schmidt is so quick with "politics" allegation coz google is facing a financial loss.why doesn't he remove the content offensive to millions of people worldwide? one nt allowed to talk against holocast i certain european countries.a british historian had to face jail in Austria only coz he said that the number of jews actually killed in holocast is far less than what is usually reported.Now wasn't that political? and if pakistani govt took action against a couple of websites coz they published blasphemous content against Prophet Muhammad(PBUH),then it's political????

carl | 14 years ago | Reply Before going to comment or make any oppinion just ask these few questions...What's going on behind the scene?why do they trying to humiliate only one religion on the name of freedom of expression?Who is the master mind behind this and what is the main purpose of doing all that?...

Straybird | 14 years ago | Reply I am not a Pakistani but I do believe in basic freedom of speech. I have no measure of the intensity of the protests against these bans in Pakistan but every protest counts. Every educated person must have a connection to the world & for those who cannot travel these sites are the best sources of information. These bans not only hinder the process of globalization but they also give a wrong idea of the country & its citizens. They say, the more tightly you hold the sand, the more it will slip away. So why harass people with these useless bans only to have them provoked in the end. Those in power must realize that these sites also promote integration & brotherhood & banning them only supports the claim that democracy in Pakistan is a misnomer.

Myla | 14 years ago | Reply Im not Pakistani (except by ancestry) but I am a Muslim and consider myself a political liberal. Although, emotionally, as a Muslim woman, I was quite upset at the caricaturing of our Rasool and feel that hurting the sentiments of ANY religion which causes offense and hurt to its followers is wrong, I can't help but wonder what the Prophet did when he was insulted? According to some hadith, he treated his tormentors with extreme kindness. Why can't we Muslims do the same? Ignore them. Who knows, through this some dialogue can take place and one of these people could turn to Islam? After all Hazrat Omar was against Islam too at one point. We seem to have lost our faith in the Almighty and seem to ready to take offence at the slightest provocation.

SadafFayyaz | 14 years ago | Reply RT When will the people of Pakistan undestand that this is actually a conspiracy by the government to block mediums such as fb and youtube for their own means. We are are an easily fooled nation, lacking logic and blinded by emotion. Hence the government always get away with these type of actions. People please stand up for your rights!! I agree with this... using the name of religion and keeping Musharaf away from his fans is the basic conspiracy.....FB is a bahanaa

Naushad Shafkat | 14 years ago | Reply That is the problem with us Pakistanis; we blame everything on the government without stopping to think. It was not the government that banned Facebook. The ban was imposed pursuant to an order of the Lahore High Court. And if the Lahore High Court, under Chief Justice Sharif, acted to protect the government of President Asif Zardari from criticism, that is front page news. The ban has continued even after the offensive page has been removed as the Lahore High Court has fixed the case for the 31st of May. If it is removed earlier on government directives everybody, including CJP Iftikhar and the media, would be up in arms shouting 'contempt of court!' Of course I am totally against the ban. Under no circumstances should we ban any site but we must show our dissent by collective action and fight anything that we find offensive by a reasoned response. If the Prophet's (P.B.U.H.) response had been to boycott everyone that was against him, there would be no followers of his in the world. The Mullahs will never want us to progress as they would then lose their hold on us. We are in the mess that we are today because of them. It is time we grow up and think for ourselves and fight for the right causes and not shy away from the world. That I think was the most important lesson that our Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) gave us.

Ali Haider | 14 years ago | Reply May be for keeping Musharraf away from his constituency!!!

Naveed Babar | 14 years ago | Reply @Ali, Agreed, Our leaders feel fear from FB and lots of other blogging sites where every one can go and express his/her views about the govt and their luxurious livings, so if the page have been removed the ban should be removed as well. Muslims countries can go to united nation and can passed a resolution that from 2day onward if any of company, org , any country who will do such a non sense again , WHOLE MUSLIMS WORLD WILL DISCONTINUE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. They should passed law for Muslims Respectable personalities as they have done ,, for their JEWs. if any one in the EU or US say , about JEWs they put them in to prison if he is a person ,, they stopped companies and org from working for Years. SO WHY NOT FOR MUSLIMS????????

Fahad Asmat | 14 years ago | Reply The person who created that page on Facebook must be arrested.

Fahad Asmat | 14 years ago | Reply Check & balance should be there on the internet. Freedom of speech doesn't mean that anyone can write wrong things about any religion.

Fahad Asmat | 14 years ago | Reply PTA should constitute a board of internet experts who should keep checking such objectionable material on the web. If they found any such item against ISLAM then that link should be blocked by PTA.

Pakistani | 14 years ago | Reply If a photograph of Mr. Schmidt's wife was stolen and her face pasted on a naked model; or if a group photograph with his golfing friends stolen and edited to shoe him standing next to Osama bin Laden; and both were put on the internet, and Mr. Schmidt had the authority to take down the website carrying his distorted photographs before anyone saw it, what would he do?

ALi | 14 years ago | Reply Facebook and Youtube became the most successful medium of exposing the corrupt leaders and politicians of Pakistan, who can't tolerate freedom of speech and don't want the ordinary people of Pakistan to participate in daily discussions, so they blocked those sites.Mark my words, Wordpress and other blogs will be the text target.

Mehroz Siraj Sadruddin | 14 years ago | Reply Finally words of sanity emanating from somewhere! Thank God. When would our people learn that they have been held hostages by the religious parties? When would our people undrstand that their emotional sentiments are being played with but not by facebook or the western media, but by our own incredulous government and hypocritical religious parties? People need to wake up!

SZ | 14 years ago | Reply When will the people of Pakistan undestand that this is actually a conspiracy by the government to block mediums such as fb and youtube for their own means. We are are an easily fooled nation, lacking logic and blinded by emotion. Hence the government always get away with these type of actions. People please stand up for your rights!!

RW | 14 years ago | Reply I KNEW IT! There is no reason whatsoever to whitewash everything...something fishy is afoot and that is why the mullahs in our society have been given free reign to be and to incite so that many websites where social discussions and dissent occured cud be BLOCKED. THIS IS THE DEATH OF INFORMATION AS WE KNOW IT...I doubt our Prophet would have wanted us to lag behind and be considered a bunch of inbreeds in the global perspective...we've only denied ourselves..

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