PTA issues notices to Google and Wikipedia over sacrilegious content

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Friday issued notices to Google and Wikipedia for disseminating sacrilegious through the platforms according to a press release issued by the regulator.

In the press release, the regulator states that several complaints were received regarding misleading search results associated with the “Present Khalifa of Islam” and unauthentic version of Holy Quran uploaded by Ahmadiyya Community on Google Play Store.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has approached Google and Wikipedia to remove the unlawful content as it is a matter of a “very serious nature”.

“The platform has been issued with the notice under Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight & Safeguard) Rules 2020 (“Rules”) to remove the sacrilegious content to avoid any legal action by the Regulator.” stated the press release.

PTA also stated that it received several complaints against Wikipedia for hosting “hosting of caricatures of Holy Prophet (PBUH) & dissemination of misleading, wrong, deceptive and deceitful information through articles,” which were published on the online encyclopedia and showcased Mirza Masroor Ahmad as a Muslim.

The regulator stated that Wikipedia has been served with a notice to remove this sacrilegious content to avoid any legal action.

PTA further states that if Google and Wikipedia remain non-compliant after the issued noticed, the regulator will have no option but to initiate further action under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and Rules 2020.

Read more: Zong Serves PTA With a Rs. 600 Billion Damages Claim.

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