Amid the ongoing pandemic, as several turn to digital platforms for seeking or providing entertainment and education, the Supreme Court hinted at a YouTube ban on Wednesday.
After initially banning and now un-banning PUBG, the court objected to unregulated content on social media, particularly comments regarding the judiciary, armed forces and the government on YouTube. “We have no objection to freedom of expression,” remarked Justice Amin. “But the Constitution also grants us the right to privacy,” he added, elaborating on how the family members of the judiciary come under scrutiny, particularly on YouTube.
After the hearing, the court issued notices to the attorney-general and the foreign minister.
Following this, many user including celebrities and vloggers, took to social media to express their disdain before any decision could be made. Among them, popular comedian and YouTuber Zaid Ali T’s was the most interesting.
Taking to Twitter, Zaid wrote, “YouTube should be banned in Pakistan.” Startling as it may seem, he then elaborated on why he believed this would be an intelligent (read terrible) decision.
Wrapping up his anger in his sarcastic sense humour, Zaid added, “So we don’t advance as a nation. So kids can’t educate themselves online. So our digital industry doesn’t thrive. So those sole earners from YouTube can lose their jobs.” And among everything else that could and would go wrong if the video sharing platform were to be banned, Zaid concluded by pointing out how it would also “show the rest of the world how smart we are!”
YouTube SHOULD BE BANNED in Pakistan.
— Zaid Ali (@Za1d) July 23, 2020
- So we don't advance as a nation
- So kids can't educate themselves online
- So our digital industry doesn't thrive
- So those sole earners from YouTube can lose their job
- So we can show the rest of the world how smart we are!
Earlier, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Digital Pakistan, Tania Aidrus, also reciprocated similar sentiments on Twitter. Tania wrote, "Banning a platform like YouTube is not a solution. The three years YouTube was banned in Pakistan held back our content creator ecosystem which has now just started to flourish – creating employment opportunities for thousands.”
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