State Minister for Law Aqeel Malik on Thursday warned social media platforms to either cooperate with the government on local regulations or risk bans.
“The Brazil model includes blocking platforms and imposing fines,” he told local and international journalists in Islamabad, referring to a ruling of the Brazil Supreme Court from June. In its verdict, the Brazil Supreme Court held that social media companies must be held accountable for illegal content published by users on their platforms.
Malik said the government could also consider approaching the International Court of Justice on the matter to ensure compliance. He criticized the platforms’ inconsistent approach, noting that content related to Palestine was removed within 24 hours but there was persistent refusal to provide the IP addresses of terrorist accounts to the Government of Pakistan.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, accompanying Malik, recalled that he had previously urged social media platforms to open offices in Pakistan. He said the government, in July, had warned that terrorists were freely using social media platforms to communicate and instigate unrest.
“Some applications’ responses are extremely weak,” he lamenting, adding that as many as 19 accounts, involved in terrorism in Pakistan, were being operated from India and 28 from Afghanistan. He reiterated that social media platform must open offices in the country.
“If content related to child pornography is being auto-deleted, why not content related to terrorism?” he questioned, suggesting A.I.-powered technology to automatically delete accounts and content indulging in terrorism.