ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) stressed that timely reporting of unlawful content directly to social media platforms is crucial for its prompt removal.

The PTA highlighted that social media platforms encourage users to lodge complaints directly, ensuring a faster and more efficient process to address and eliminate inappropriate content.

PTA Director Muhammad Farooq in his article “The Need to be Responsible Online User” said it is essential for the public to familiarize themselves with these guidelines, as they provide a framework of rules for uploading and sharing content.

Social Media companies strive to ensure a safe platform for users through self-regulation, which involves establishing community guidelines and standards.

He further said that effective results cannot be achieved without active public participation. To facilitate the instant reporting of unlawful content to the PTA, a state-of-the-art and user-friendly Complaint Management System (CMS) has been developed.

Users, he said, can lodge complaints by selecting relevant categories, such as Against the Glory of Islam, Hate Speech, Anti-State, Child Abuse or Indecent/Immoral content.

The PTA team thoroughly analyzes each complaint and takes up the matter with the concerned social media platform for its prompt removal.

In a culturally rich and diverse nation like Pakistan, where individuals embrace various religious beliefs and sects, it is paramount to avoid uploading or sharing content that offends the sentiments of others. Knowledge of local laws is crucial to avoid legal consequences for uploading unlawful content, he said in the article.

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Section 37 deals with the removal of unlawful online content related to the glory of Islam, particularly in cases of blasphemy, and Section 11 addresses hate speech and criminalizes any online content that promotes or is likely to promote interfaith, sectarian, or racial hatred.

PTA encourages online users to use digital space responsibly and to report any unlawful content directly to the relevant social media company or PTA for timely removal. This collective effort will help minimize the negative impact of such content on society at large.

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