Pakistan rights groups boycott talks over govt's bid to snoop on social media users
A lot more than 100 rights organisations and media groups in Pakistan have boycotted talks with the federal government over the new online censorship rules and demanded their withdrawal, a media report said on Monday.
Under the new group of rules, approved by the federal government on February 11, social media companies must disclose any information or data to a designated investigation agency, when sought. Failure to follow the provisions will entail a fine as high as Rs 500 million.
This has prompted Google and popular social media platforms, including Twitter and Facebook, to threaten suspension of their services in the united states as a result of fresh regulations.
“While Cabinet approval for the guidelines remains in place, there can be no engagement or consultation. This only shows the government's intent to use the consultation as a smokescreen while intending to implement and enforce the guidelines already prepared and approved,” a statement signed by the rights groups said.
The federal government has refused to clarify the legal status of the guidelines without which “any consultation is merely a token to deflect criticism and not a genuine exercise to get input,” it said, demanding withdrawal of the guidelines.
Facing flak over the guidelines, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced consultation with stakeholders over the Citizens Protection Rules 2020.
With the objective, the Ministry of IT formed a committee on February 29 headed by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman Amir Azeem Bajwa to attempt an comprehensive and broad-based consultation process with all relevant segments of the civil society and technology companies about the guidelines, the Dawn newspaper reported.
The rights organisations that boycotted the talks include Digital Rights Foundation, Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development, Pakistan Bar Council, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Press Foundation, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan and Freedom Network.
The groups also objected to selecting members of the committee formed for consultation as not really a single representative of civil society, industry and stakeholders has been nominated in it, the report said.
In a letter written to Prime Minister Khan on February 15, the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) comprising Facebook, Twitter, Google, Amazon, Apple and other tech giants urged the federal government to revise the brand new sets of regulations for social media.
Source: www.deccanchronicle.com
