[governance] Google's CEO in Pakistan and the political use of technology? But dissidents are not safe!

[Fouad Bajwa]

A few weeks after the Chief of ITU visited Pakistan and met with the
President, the Google CEO was also on a quiet vist to Pakistan from
14th-15th June 2012 meeting with Political Parties, (pseudo) Activists
and the Prime Minster and Chief Minister of Punjab basically visiting
Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

There are mixed thoughts and responses about Mr. Eric's sudden visit
especially post Dr Hamadoun Touré, ITU Secretary General's trip to
Pakistan. The Google CEO's entourage was mostly composed of Public
Policy staff and visited the usual suspects around the country.

Despite visits by ITU and Google Chief's and the wonderful stories
shared by the officials about ICT and Internet penetration and growth
in Pakistan, the situation behind the scenes is bleak with how online
content is being filtered, the silent measures being put in place with
regards to censoring and blocking content, the lack of a pro-people
national ICT/Internet public policy and the ongoing attempts to
shutdown the Internet remain a continuous threat for online citizens
as well as dissidents. "Dissidents in Pakistan are not safe, there is
no guarantee of any kind of protection!".

Last year, Google's CEO was concerned about the broad bans on online
content by the Pakistani Authorities:
"Google chief suspects ulterior motive in PakistanBy AFPPublished: May
22, 2010:
http://www.tribune.com.pk/story/15287/google-chief-suspects-ulterior-motive-in-pakistan/

Media Sources:
International Herald Tribune/Express Tribune
http://tribune.com.pk/story/394128/gilani-seeks-googles-help-in-tracking-cross-border-movement/

Associated Press of Pakistan
http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=198697&Itemid=2

RT:
http://www.rt.com/news/pakistan-google-terrorist-gilani-913/

Blog Source:
http://propakistani.pk/2012/06/15/eric-schmidt-chairman-google-quietly-visits-pakistan/

Political Party Meets:
http://www.thenewstribe.com/2012/06/16/pti-team-meets-googles-eric-schmidt-over-political-use-of-technology/#.T9yBtSstjmk

-- 
Regards.
--------------------------
Foo

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