Pakistan Telecom Authority claims new social media rules will boost tech investments

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Friday the country’s new social media rules would boost investments in the tech sector, days after the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC)-- a consortium of 15 web giants-- wrote a letter to the Prime Minister demanding changes to the rules.
Last month, Pakistan’s government approved new rules for regulating cyberspace that rights groups and internet companies like Google, Facebook, Yahoo and eBay have said could be used to stifle dissent and free speech.
Under the new regulations, social media companies would be obliged to help law enforcement agencies access data and to remove online content deemed unlawful. Companies that do not comply with the rules risk being blocked online.
But after scathing criticism from digital rights activists and tech companies, PTA has said its rules are misunderstood and would not harm businesses-- instead would boost them.
“It is reiterated that the rules in no sense aim to harm the business environment in Pakistan,” the statement by the regulatory body said.
“Rather would pave the way for better investment opportunities for tech companies while remaining compliant with local laws.”
PTA added it would “support all tech companies and stakeholders in realizing digital transformation goals, within the bounds of the country’s laws and relevant rules.”
In a letter by AIC to Prime Minister Imran Khan, dated December 5 and seen by Arab News, web giants said: “We seek your assistance to ensure that your government makes critical changes to the Rules through a credible consultation process.”
“We would request for a credible consultation process where AIC members can provide substantive suggestions. AIC is not against regulation of social media, but we believe that the Rules must address crucial issues such as internationally recognized rights to individual expression and privacy.”
The AIC added: “The Rules, as currently notified and gazetted, would make it extremely difficult for AIC Members to make their platforms and services available to Pakistani users and businesses.”
In response on Friday, the PTA has tried to dispel the idea that all stakeholders were not taken on board before the regulations were rolled out and said a comprehensive consultation had been carried out with members of the AIC.
“During the process, key local and international stakeholders were invited in the interest of broad-based consultation, active engagement and open dialogue, including Asian Internet Coalition (AIC) and its members i.e. Google, Facebook, Twitter etc,” the PTA statement said, and added views between them had been exchanged during a meeting on June 19, 2020.
But the telecom regulator said the process could not have been prolonged indefinitely by consultations as per the high court’s orders, and added that alongside the inclusion of “all reasonable concerns and recommendations of stakeholders,” the right to freedom of speech and expression had also been included in the rules.