Legislation to localise YouTube content under way, NA told

Once the bill is passed, govt will pursue Google to give Pakistan rights to locally manage the website

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly was informed on Friday that legislation to 'localise' You Tube in Pakistan is under way, which will keep a check on blasphemous material and avoid future resentment against the website.

Minister of State for Information Technology Anousha Rehman told the lower house during a question hour session that a draft bill has been tabled in the National Assembly's Standing Committee on IT and once it is passed by Parliament, the government will pursue Google to give Pakistan rights to locally manage the website.

"Presently, these websites are operating under the American law and do not fall in the ambit of Pakistani laws. Therefore, it is necessary to bring them under Pakistani law in order to avoid posting on them objectionable material," Rehman said.

She said in some others Muslim countries, You Tube is still banned and in those where it is operating, it has been done after proper legislation and localisation.

Earlier, Parliamentary secretary cabinet division Raja Javed Akhlas informed the National Assembly that the government is also proceeding for legislation in light of the apex court's decision regarding You Tube.

"These websites hurt emotions of Muslims across the world and in Pakistan as well. Therefore, proper legislation in light of the court's decision was required before opening them," Akhlas said, in response to questions by MNAs Shazia Marri and Shamsun Nisa.

He rejected the impression that the government did not want to open up this website and assured that it would be done after proper legislation.

"It may be demand from the international community or some NGO's campaign to get You Tube opened so it could again hurt feelings of Muslims."

He said as there was no technical solution available to control objectionable material on You Tube; therefore, in compliance of the court orders, it was completely blocked.

Moreover, Google had removed the movie Innocence of Muslims following a US court order but smaller versions of it are still available.

In this situation, the parliamentary secretary said an Intermediary Liability Protection was required to be added in the law as has been done in other countries.