YouTube Officially Enters Pakistan, but Will Be Kept an Eye on

The Pakistan government will have the right to demand removal of any content they deem objectionable.

YouTube Pakistan has been launched officially. (Photo: iStock)

For over three years, the world’s second largest search engine, YouTube, has not been available to Pakistanis. On Thursday, YouTube Pakistan was officially launched.

YouTube Pakistan, however, is going to be different from the website that over 85 other countries also use. It will be specifically designed for Pakistan and the government will have the right to demand removal of any content they deem objectionable.

A lot has been said about the deal that was struck between Google and the Pakistan government. There is concern that the deal has not been made transparent and the government is wielding too much power to censor content in the situation.

But even if it’s new, customised for Pakistan avatar, YouTube will allow local artists to use the website to cash in on their talents. While videos of Coke Studio Pakistan are frequently watched on YouTube in India, our neighbours too can watch their own artists on the show that is so hugely popular.

In 2012, YouTube was banned in Pakistan after protests over a ‘blasphemous’ film, ‘Innocence of Muslims.’

The Pakistan government initially tried to restrict the trailer of the film within Pakistan. But when YouTube refused to take it down, the government went ahead and banned the website altogether.

It was unblocked in January this year, but a decision was made to keep the video sharing web portal localised for Pakistan’s requirement.

Interestingly, Salman Khan’s blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijaan famously depicted Khan’s character using YouTube as a tool to spread his message to people in Pakistan, when in fact the website was banned.

The film’s accuracy aside, perhaps the website can now be used by Pakistanis as the same tool of subversion, and the government’s hand clamping down on content won’t be too heavy.

(Source: Dawn)