Wikipedia Banned By PTA for Not Removing Sacrilegious Content

Wikipedia has been blocked in Pakistan by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for failing to "block/remove sacrilegious information" within the allotted 48 hours, a spokesperson of the PTA confirmed on Saturday. Wikipedia is a free, open-source, editable online encyclopedia that millions of people use as a starting point for basic knowledge. Because Wikipedia had not complied with orders to remove content that was problematic from the website, the PTA had on Wednesday downgraded Wikipedia services across the nation. The regulator claimed that neither the website had complied with its requirements nor removed the inappropriate content.

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PTA spokesperson Malahat Obaid told the newsmen that the main reason for the ban was a failure to follow the orders. The spokeswoman continued, "The decision can be revisited once Wikipedia removes sacrilegious content that the regulatory authority has detected. "When attempting to access the website, users are greeted with "this site cannot be reached."

The organization that controls Wikipedia, the Wikimedia Foundation, stated yesterday that it "does not make choices around what content is included on Wikipedia or how that content is maintained. “It continued, "By design, this is done to ensure that articles are the outcome of many individuals working together to decide what information should be provided on the site, resulting in richer, more balanced articles."