ISLAMABAD, July 19 (Alliance News):The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) stressed the importance of promptly reporting unlawful content directly to social media platforms for quick removal.
PTA Director Muhammad Farooq, in his article “The Need to be Responsible Online User,” emphasized that public familiarity with platform guidelines is essential for responsible content sharing. Social media companies maintain community standards to ensure safe platforms through self-regulation.
Farooq noted that effective results require active public participation. To facilitate reporting, PTA developed a user-friendly Complaint Management System (CMS) accessible online and via mobile apps on Playstore and Appstore. Users can lodge complaints under categories like Against the Glory of Islam, Hate Speech, Anti-State, Child Abuse, or Indecent/Immoral content.
Each complaint is analyzed by the PTA and forwarded to the concerned social media platform for prompt action. PTA also provided a guide on lodging complaints and a video tutorial on reporting unlawful online content on its YouTube channel.
Farooq stressed the importance of understanding local laws to avoid legal consequences, citing the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), which addresses issues like blasphemy and hate speech.
PTA encourages responsible digital behavior and timely reporting to minimize the negative impact of unlawful content. Despite the use of AI algorithms, social media companies still rely on public reports for content moderation.
In Pakistan, an Islamic country with diverse religious beliefs, it is crucial to avoid sharing content that may offend others. Knowledge of local laws and reporting mechanisms is essential for all citizens to help mitigate the spread of harmful content online.
