Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Pakistani gov degrades Wikipedia connections due to blasphemy

pta.gov.pk

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 268 posts

Re: Pakistani gov degrades Wikipedia connections due to blasphemy

#21

Post by [deleted] »

LinuxBender wrote: post #13
ceejayoz wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Someone reported this to the FBI, it's not actionable on a criminal level, but it breaks your TOS, heads-up" versus "we have deleted the encyclopedia for religious reasons". Yep, definitely comparable scenarios. Blasphemy carries the death penalty in Pakistan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy_in_Pakistan

Yep, definitely comparable scenarios. I think it is. Pakastan can create whatever laws fit its culture. I would never dare to imagine imposing my values or beliefs on them. They should create their own Wiki alternative and make it popular within their nation. [Edit] Or if their people see fit change their laws, overthrow their government or whatever they deem appropriate for their culture. But that is entirely on the…

[deleted]

Re: Pakistani gov degrades Wikipedia connections due to blasphemy

#22

Post by cactusplant7374 »

capableweb wrote: post #16

> on account of not blocking / removing sacrilegious contents > Wikipedia was approached for blocking / removal of the said contents > platform neither complied by removing the blasphemous content nor appeared before the Authority. Anyone know what sacrilegious/blasphemous content they are referring to?

Are there artistic depictions of Muhammed on Wikipedia?

Re: Pakistani gov degrades Wikipedia connections due to blasphemy

#23

Post by beardyw »

flipbrad wrote: post #2

"Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has degraded Wikipedia services in the country on account of not blocking / removing sacrilegious contents. Wikipedia was approached for blocking / removal of the said contents by issuing a notice under applicable law and court order(s). An opportunity of hearing was also provided, however, the platform neither complied by removing the blasphemous content nor appeared befor…

I am trying to think why Wikipedia would care about this. They offer a free service - if you don't want it that's just disappointing.

Re: Pakistani gov degrades Wikipedia connections due to blasphemy

#25

Post by ceejayoz »

auctoritas wrote: post #15

Similar things are happening in the West given US and Euro govts leaning on Social Media companies to censor dissenting/blasphemous views. Just think - what are you not allowed to say? What will get you banned or blacklisted?

Can you define "similar", please?

The FBI sending Twitter emails about TOS violations they noticed and being executed for being an atheist are "similar" only if you really torture the definition.

Re: Pakistani gov degrades Wikipedia connections due to blasphemy

#27

Post by boomboomsubban »

capableweb wrote: post #16

> on account of not blocking / removing sacrilegious contents > Wikipedia was approached for blocking / removal of the said contents > platform neither complied by removing the blasphemous content nor appeared before the Authority. Anyone know what sacrilegious/blasphemous content they are referring to?

This article https://www.geo.tv/latest/468510-pakistan-warns-blocking-wik... says depictions of Muhammad and saying this person https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirza_Masroor_Ahmad is a Muslim. I'm not sure if that press conference was over the 2020 issue or the current one.

Re: Pakistani gov degrades Wikipedia connections due to blasphemy

#28

Post by brmgb »

beardyw wrote: post #23
flipbrad wrote: post #2

"Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has degraded Wikipedia services in the country on account of not blocking / removing sacrilegious contents. Wikipedia was approached for blocking / removal of the said contents by issuing a notice under applicable law and court order(s). An opportunity of hearing was also provided, however, the platform neither complied by removing the blasphemous content nor appeared befor…

I am trying to think why Wikipedia would care about this. They offer a free service - if you don't want it that's just disappointing.

Then everyone in Pakistan gets deprived of a valuable source of knowledge on virtue of their government being obscurantist.

Re: Pakistani gov degrades Wikipedia connections due to blasphemy

#29

Post by kemayo »

beardyw wrote: post #23
flipbrad wrote: post #2

"Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has degraded Wikipedia services in the country on account of not blocking / removing sacrilegious contents. Wikipedia was approached for blocking / removal of the said contents by issuing a notice under applicable law and court order(s). An opportunity of hearing was also provided, however, the platform neither complied by removing the blasphemous content nor appeared befor…

I am trying to think why Wikipedia would care about this. They offer a free service - if you don't want it that's just disappointing.

An ideological commitment to free knowledge, mostly. It's upsetting to be cut off from people who could use it.

Re: Pakistani gov degrades Wikipedia connections due to blasphemy

#30

Post by jl6 »

beardyw wrote: post #23
flipbrad wrote: post #2

"Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has degraded Wikipedia services in the country on account of not blocking / removing sacrilegious contents. Wikipedia was approached for blocking / removal of the said contents by issuing a notice under applicable law and court order(s). An opportunity of hearing was also provided, however, the platform neither complied by removing the blasphemous content nor appeared befor…

I am trying to think why Wikipedia would care about this. They offer a free service - if you don't want it that's just disappointing.

They might care that Pakistani Wikipedia editors and readers alike could find themselves targeted by the Pakistani authorities.
Post reply on HN