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Don't Block the Blog: Fighting Against Online Censorship in Pakistan

In response to the ban on displaying cartoons of the Holy Prophet, an online protest emerged in Pakistan, challenging the government's censorship. Learn about the blocked websites, the legal context, the role of Pakistan Telecom Authority, and the efforts to maintain free speech in a digital age. Join the Action Group Against Blogspot Ban in Pakistan and the movement to protect online freedom of expression.

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Don't Block the Blog: Fighting Against Online Censorship in Pakistan

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  1. Blogspot Banned in Pakistan 2nd March 2006

  2. Cartoons Cartoons Cartoons

  3. Supreme Court Constitutional petition on March 2nd Ordered the blocking of websites displaying the cartoons 12 websites to be blocked

  4. Pakistan Penal Code • Article 249-C Use of derogatory remarks, etc; in respect of the Holy Prophet. Whoever by words, either spoken or written or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.

  5. One specific website of the 12 was hosted on the blogspot domain DrawMuhammadWeek.blogspot.com

  6. Pakistan Telecom Authority • PTA – establishes a Pakistan Internet Exchange (PIE) • Two Nodes control & Monitor all internet access in and out of Pakistan • Karachi • Lahore • The authorities currently maintain a simple DNS Level block on blogspot.com

  7. PTA has tried to censor pornographic websites in 2003 • PTA has also occasionally blocked Anti-govt websites 2003 – South Asia Tribune www.satribune.com

  8. Pakistan Internet Exchange • PIE uses Cisco routers to block traffic, which are capable of more complex filtering rules • Monitors all incoming and outgoing traffic from Pakistan • Filters content depending on the whims of the administration • Stores all data for three months

  9. Blogspot.com • All sub-domains on blogspot are blocked • Blogger.com is unblocked so one can view comments and make posts but NOT view the website

  10. Sample Traceroute March 3rd 2006 • 180 ms 189 ms 175 ms MaxSuper-Pesh.super.net.pk [203.130.28.3] • 157 ms 215 ms 167 ms super28-line-001.super.net.pk [203.130.28.1] • 198 ms 174 ms 159 ms 10.250.250.61 • 174 ms 175 ms 199 ms s9-1-2.rwp44d2.pie.net.pk [202.125.155.117] • 156 ms 167 ms 183 ms rwp44.pie.net.pk [202.125.148.160] • * * * Request timed out. • * * * Request timed out. • * * * Request timed out. • * * * Request timed out. • * * * Request timed out. • * * * Request timed out. • * * * Request timed out. • * * * Request timed out. • * * * Request timed out. • * * * Request timed out. • ....................

  11. We Choose to Speak outWe Choose to Protest

  12. Pakistan Protests • Don’t Block the Blog • Action Group Against Blogspot Ban in Pakistan - AGABBIP • Pakistan 451

  13. Don’t Block the Blog www.Help-Pakistan.com/main/dont-block-the-blog/

  14. Don’t Block the Blog Creation of Dr. Awab Alvi (Teeth Maestro) teeth.com.pk/blog Omer Alvie (Olive Ream) oream.blogspot.com An online awareness campaign to protest against the blogspot ban

  15. Action Group Against Blogspot Ban in Pakistan groups.google.com/group/AGABBIP

  16. Pakistan 451 pakistan451.wordpress.com

  17. Censorship of Knowledge Wikipedia Blocked

  18. Wikipedia blocked for 7 hours • March 31st 3.5 million pages of Wikipedia censored • Blockade was due to ONE specific page displaying the cartoons • AGABBIP mailing list was very active for the seven hours but just before press release was ready to be dispatched, the ban was lifted

  19. Censored for 7 hours

  20. We are the people This is the face of a contemporary Pakistan We are students, teachers, artists, journalists, activists and business men and women They Cannot Ignore Us

  21. Free speech is a prerequisite for any democratic society that respects civil liberties

  22. I along with many bloggers are fighting for free speech…

  23. not just for the blog voices in Pakistan but for a global free speech

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