Is the YouTube ban indefinite?
There have been previous government attempts at Internet censorship with Blogger, Twitter and Facebook facing the wrath of the authorities at various times. But no ban has been as long lasting as the YouTube ban. The fear now is that the government will be emboldened and revive plans to build a monitoring and blocking system along the lines of the Great Firewall of China. This will mean reduced Internet speed for everyone, even greater government intrusion and the end of Internet freedom in the country. It is a battle we must be prepared to fight in order to beat down spurious charges that the bans are only being put in place because of national security or religion.
The government’s Internet censorship policies do not extend only to websites that might stir religious fervour. The government has been equally enthusiastic in blocking the websites of Baloch nationalists and separatists, a decision that reeks of political bullying. So afraid are the authorities that the Baloch cause might appeal to many that it prefers to shut off access to the argument altogether. These are the actions of a weak and fearful state. That is why it is necessary for us to loudly demand that the Internet be left alone.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2012.
COMMENTS (29)
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sign a petition and submit it in the supreme court that should get a move on things
Ban from YOUTUBE should be removed because none the of muslim countries have blocked youtube govt should only ban the link of that film and open the youtube
Ban is really not the issue here guys..its OUR "herd syndrome"... why is evryone complaining about government bringing down youtube?...Can
t we just make another site of our OWN! parellel to youtube?.. But no we have to follow them in evrything..first they colonized us and made us servants! Now its the same...we are still their servants in the cyber space...Facebook..Skype..Youtube..cmon why isnt there any Pakistan based social website or video uploading website? Its about time we make our presence known in the cyber world.@Ravi: truly agree with you
you are just pointing fingers at government but u fail to realize that why youtube is not removing that video after so many request i mean the government request only to remove this video for pakistan but youtube has refused yes i agree with you that no one will see this video but it doesnt mean that they should be allowed to make fun of any religious beliefs also if we were to make fun of there religious they would have removed it asap & if any one who cannot stay without youtube try daily motion website or any other video sharing website.
To think B.S is taken to mean intellectual discussions here esp. by fanatics who think that the lack of Pakistani funds are enough to topple Google. Fact of the matter is that all of Google's FREE services which helps companies save a massive amount of money have been affected due to the ban since Pakistani admins block range of IPs, so other services are being affected too. Android Developers are suffering due to lack of access to Android Markets and the money they make is no more. Our kids who've grown up listening and following their passion (google Usman Riaz Ted) do not have that anymore. Poor kids are affected because the online schools like 'khanacademy' are no more.I can go on and on on this one... but it just shows an intolerance that has steeped into this culture to such a height that people are willing to give up the good just for one messed up video.
You don't see Muslim nations banning YouTube. There's a reason for it. Ban the author and his work. Not the medium. It's like banning PTV over a show if you don't agree with it. This is the age of information. It's impossible to avoid it.
Nuff said.
Censorship in any form is a bad idea as is the curtailment of free speech. In the twenty first century we are in the information age and a country that decides to block content will put their citizens at an handicap crippling their ability to strategize and compete in the global arena.
If Youtube is so concerned about artists and other people, why they still have not deleted the video from their web site? This clearly shows that Youtube is taking money behind the scenes by those who want to create frustration in Muslims. We know Youtube is a good resource for a lot of walks of life but no one is allowed to make fun of any religious beliefs.
Of course no one forces people to use Youtube, and I don't have to use it if I don't want to. But the point is, it acts as more of a message to Youtube that the country is against the promotion of hate speech. It's more of national symbolism. Before it was more like those who didn't want to use Youtube don't have to. Now it's those who want to use Youtube can still choose to. Really makes no difference, but I like the message it gets across.
Since the ban, there has been no pro taliban video either. Just like government is turning off cell service if there is even a hint of impending attack so the government is looking out for young impressionable minds who are easily effected in their religious leanings.
The ban is just. Youtube (Google) doesn't deserve a dime in revenues from Pakistani advertisements. If you won't conform, stay out.
One thing is for sure Youtube must be losing its share of profits it was earning from Pakistan and that should continue on indefinitely to topple them...... We should learn to boycott such sites that cause contempt to our religion....!!!
Why youtube is not removing film? I think if do not change its behavior, government should think to ban all services of Google Inc.
everyone is using multiple soft-wares for viewing you tube . Ban did not serve any purpose .
Hmm. Wht is the motivation behind author
No one forces you to read a book, go to a particular website or listen to anyone speak -- the bottom line is regardless of your religious beliefs you have no right to tell others what they can or cannot read/write or say. If you search the internet you can always find something that offends you - whether it's on Utube or some other forum - using your philosophy you might as well quit surfing the net. Grow up.
i am using proxy apps to youtube . BAN proxy apps govt :P
@lovePak: I'd really like someone to explain why a ban is necessary right now. Is it to keep the people who "support the ban" from visiting the site? Those people are free not to visit the website, if that's what they want. Just as free as they were before the ban, and as free as they'll be once if/when the ban's lifted.
On a local academic/industry mailing list, there was a discussion recently on how software companies and local universities can take advantage of the free courses offered by Udacity and the like to augment their employees'/students' practical knowledge. While none of the courses are equivalent to a degree from MIT or Stanford, they're still extremely valuable for their content and applicability in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis software engineers and students today.
And we're cut off from that. Who cut us off? The "supporters of the ban."
On a religious note, there are Muslim scholars who continue to post their videos on the site. Their ability to perform da'wah using Youtube is unaffected. But, of course, these scholars don't live in Pakistan. So, is the purpose of the ban also to prevent local scholars from teaching Islam in Urdu to Pakistani non-residents?
There are thousands of pro-islam videos on youtube. Question is, should we also ban those pro-islam videos as well just because we are unable to block one single video? secondly, both Pakistani govt and youtube are extremists. They both don't want to bulge from their stance.
Whats wrong with sensorship in positive ? Criticism is good if positive but criticism, for sake of criticism is nothing but non-sense. Being Pakistani we should support government in such good efforts and should criticise Youtube for its don't care behaviour. When comments in favour of Hitler can be removed immediately than what is the issue in removing such a wicked video for many days. Such full of irrelivent cristism editorial is quite shameful from so called Pakistan oriented website on an issue where government should be supported by all Pakistani.
Well if you tube insisting on not to remove the blasphemous clip then at least we can do is to ban it..And if china can progress without you tube then we also...and i think its good as more then 90% of our "unparh" used it for songs and fighting with Indians..
The only reason this ban has lasted as long as it has is because people are using proxy servers to access youtube and hence those seeking youtube for education/entertainment is not deprived. The only people who suffer are artistse who used this channel as an inexpensive and censorfree medium to distribute their work e.g. Aloo Anday, Wadray ka beta etc. SO Paistan is hurting its artistes without doing anything whatsoever to accomplish its original objective.