In a recent document issued by the Ministry of Information and Technology it is decided to ban a total of 469 apps by Pakistan Telecommunication Authorities , whose feedback is not satisfying and many complaints are received from stakeholder organizations and from the general public too.425 android apps and almost 34 apple apps were included in blocked apps which were containing anti Islamic contents, material not appropriate to our religious and traditional norms and other fraudulent activities.According to Prevention of Electronic Crime Act (PECA) section 37 which says that PTA has the right to remove or block online content due to various reasons like public demand, national security and decency. Specially section 37 fully gave a right to PTA to block such contents which are not appropriate for islam, integrity and security of Pakistan , contempt of court and promoting negativity in minds of public, child pornography etc . In the digital space this section 37 provides a great way to check and balance online material and their usage and block the contents which are spreading anti islamic material and negativity in public and also block vulgar material from the internet. This section acts as a legal reason to disrupt the digital space. PECA act Clause 37 (2016) gave full hold to PTA to act against those contents which are unlawful and a threat to the country’s security, against the moral values of Islam and publicly awkward. PTA actually takes the decision of blocking the inappropriate apps due to public complaints and to ensure the contents that would be within the limits of religion and social traditions.This act of Pakistan Telecommunication Authorities shows that the digital space is protected and able to curb unlawful material and also the authority has the power to block illegal contents so that moral and ethical values of the country remain safe.
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