Pakistan restores Twitter after weekend blockage

Pakistan has restored access to Twitter in the country after blocking it over the weekend, saying that it would turn to Interpol for help with screening sensitive content.

Somewhat ironically, the country’s interior minister took to the social network to explain that the government had chosen to shut it down because of “un Islamic” content, adding that the country’s government had tried contacting Twitter, but that it had not been of any assistance.

The series of tweets started out with an assurance that social media would not be blocked in Pakistan:

Judging by the number of tweets he sends out and the 35 000 or so followers he has, it’s doubtful that Malik would want to see the social network banned in his country.

The specific cause of the offense was a competition urging people to draw a picture of Mohammed, something which goes against Islamic doctrine. Pakistan does have a history of blocking sites that it considers to be blasphemous, anti-Islamic, or threatening to internal security. It’s also blocked access to sites critical of the government or the military.

More

News

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest in digital insights. sign up

Welcome to Memeburn

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest in digital insights.