Crackdown against anti-polio content on social media begins
At least 174 links blocked so far, says PTA
A total of 12 polio cases have been surfaced across the country this year.PHOTO: REUTERS
Social media giants including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have started removing anti-polio vaccination content from their websites, days after Pakistan's request to take down the misleading content.
The content was removed for spreading misunderstanding and discouraging the masses to vaccinate their children against the poliovirus, said an official statement issued on Friday.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in its official correspondence, said that the “PTA has been proactively identifying and reporting anti-vaccination content hosted on different social media platforms".
According to the telecommunication watchdog, a total of 174 links have been blocked so far, of which 130 were from Facebook, 14 from Twitter and 30 from YouTube.
“Facebook’s global regulatory and content management team had assured Pakistan of their cooperation in its fight against polio during a video conference,” said Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Babar Bin Atta.
He appreciated Facebook's support in eradicating polio from Pakistan.
A statement issued from the National Emergency Operations Centre said the polio programme would continue to work closely with Facebook to identify and recommend action against users who spread hateful propaganda.
"The Government of Pakistan is taking strict measures to regulate vaccine-related harmful content available on social media to address the misconceptions surrounding the polio vaccine", said the communique.
The statement elaborated that parental refusals based on misconceptions propagated through social media, especially Facebook, regarding polio vaccine was emerging as a major obstacle in achieving complete eradication in the country.
Last month, Peshawar police arrested Nazar Gul, a person whose propaganda video against polio vaccinations went viral on social media.
In the video from Peshawar's Hayatabad Medical Complex, the man asked children to pose as unconscious after being vaccinated.
The vaccinations had triggered violent protests across K-P.
According to officials, at least 12 poliovirus cases have surfaced across the country so far.
The content was removed for spreading misunderstanding and discouraging the masses to vaccinate their children against the poliovirus, said an official statement issued on Friday.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in its official correspondence, said that the “PTA has been proactively identifying and reporting anti-vaccination content hosted on different social media platforms".
According to the telecommunication watchdog, a total of 174 links have been blocked so far, of which 130 were from Facebook, 14 from Twitter and 30 from YouTube.
“Facebook’s global regulatory and content management team had assured Pakistan of their cooperation in its fight against polio during a video conference,” said Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Babar Bin Atta.
He appreciated Facebook's support in eradicating polio from Pakistan.
A statement issued from the National Emergency Operations Centre said the polio programme would continue to work closely with Facebook to identify and recommend action against users who spread hateful propaganda.
"The Government of Pakistan is taking strict measures to regulate vaccine-related harmful content available on social media to address the misconceptions surrounding the polio vaccine", said the communique.
The statement elaborated that parental refusals based on misconceptions propagated through social media, especially Facebook, regarding polio vaccine was emerging as a major obstacle in achieving complete eradication in the country.
Last month, Peshawar police arrested Nazar Gul, a person whose propaganda video against polio vaccinations went viral on social media.
In the video from Peshawar's Hayatabad Medical Complex, the man asked children to pose as unconscious after being vaccinated.
The vaccinations had triggered violent protests across K-P.
According to officials, at least 12 poliovirus cases have surfaced across the country so far.