Whereas addressing the current web disruptions and submarine cable outage, PTA Chairman Main Normal (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman dismissed claims that sharks have been accountable, clarifying that sharks can not injury the cables.
In a Senate committee briefing on Wednesday, January 1, Rehman dismissed claims that sharks have been chargeable for the severing of submarine cables, stating that such an occasion was extremely unlikely as sharks can not injury submarine cables.
He clarified that the problem was not attributable to wildlife however quite technical elements.
The briefing, led by Senator Palwasha Khan within the Senate’s Standing Committee on Info and Know-how, targeted on Pakistan’s web connectivity and its regulation.
Rehman confirmed that Pakistan at the moment depends on seven submarine cables for web providers and highlighted that an extra “2 Africa” submarine cable will quickly be activated, anticipated to enhance web high quality within the nation.
On the subject of social media rules, the PTA Chairman shared that the authority receives roughly 500 complaints day by day about content material on social media platforms. In consequence, the PTA requests these platforms to take away content material that violates native rules.
Rehman said that roughly 80% of flagged content material is eliminated, whereas round 20% stays accessible.
A significant level of debate in the course of the assembly was the authority’s energy to dam web entry in sure areas. Senator Kamran Murtaza questioned the authorized foundation for such actions, asking for clarification on the place within the legislation it permits the federal government to limit web entry in particular areas.
In response, an official from the Ministry of Info Know-how (IT) defined that there isn’t a direct point out of regional web shutdowns within the legislation, however the Ministry of Inside has the authority to direct the PTA to take such actions when crucial.
Rehman additional elaborated that, in accordance with the principles, the Ministry of Inside has the discretion to instruct the PTA to dam web or social media providers, which has been a standard apply in Pakistan since 2016.
The PTA chairman additionally questioned the legality of those actions, highlighting that such measures have been in place for almost a decade, with authorities orders dictating web shutdowns.
He additionally famous that web restrictions had been enforced on a number of events on the behest of each the Supreme Courtroom and Excessive Courtroom, notably when directed by authorized authorities.
The PTA Chairman concluded by stating that if the federal government orders web shutdowns to take away particular on-line content material, it could possibly be completed legally by limiting web entry in focused areas.