[governance] Pakistan: Ministry of IT Pursues Filtration Again

Sun Aug 25 15:56:12 EDT 2013

Dear Sana, and All,

Thank you for this important update and for updating the community on challenges in Pakistan. It might be useful for the IGC to consider developing a statement on surveillance vrs privacy. Whilst Article 19 of the ICCPR contains the exceptions, it is critical that these exceptions are not abused.

Filtering is not all bad where it is used to ensure that traffic flows seamlessly and is not bogged down by unwanted unsolicited traffic. The issue in terms of (unwanted and unsolicited) is distinguishing between what is ok and what just clogs up the network.

I recently visited two governments in the Pacific and noted that they had to manage traffic in a way that allowed fair and equitable use for its users. There are countries in the world where internet access is expensive as they do not have global submarine cables landing and rely in satellite for access, so unwarranted and unsolicited bulk mail or annoying traffic can cause serious congestions.  

When filtering mechanisms are abused or when exceptions in Article 19 of the ICCPR are abused then this sets a dangerous precedent.

Over the last five years this has been increasingly a moral, ethical debate. Most countries are grappling with this in Europe, US, Pakistan and the Pacific.

The IGC might wish to consider developing a discussion and statement on this prior to Bali.

Kind Regards,
Sala

Sent from my iPad

On Aug 26, 2013, at 7:40 AM, Sana Saleem <sana at bolobhi.org> wrote:

> Sorry for the delay in responding to you. On CC is my partner Farieha Aziz, who has been appointed Amicus Cureai in the case and has been advising the court on the civil liberties and policy aspects of the issue. Following are the details of her submission to the court on behalf of Bolo Bhi, as well as resources gathered by our team. Hope they're helpful. Please feel free to reach out and ask if you'd like more info, similarly please do suggest thoughts or advice on the matter:
> 
> In short, in the last hearing the Judge, after discussions with PTA officials and the amicus, that state based filters are not the solution. The discourse in the court is focused on home based solutions, given how state based filters are prone to abuse. We feel the discourse in the court is heading towards the right direction. However, the minister of IT and the secretary have not appeared the court despite being called twice.
> 
> We hope that the ministry pays heed to the courts requests and participates in the discourse. 
> 
> Here's a timeline for all updates 
> 
> Bolo Bhi Amicus Report on Case Hearing
> Bolo Bhi's Submission To The Court ( through april &july + summary of court proceedings)  
> Bolo Bhi's Submission to Court August 2nd: Youtube & Education 
> Bolo Bhi Submission to Court August 2nd: Experts Letters  
> Resources from team and other experts:
> Understanding HTTPS 
> TIMELINE: Youtube Ban 2012 - 2013
> TIMELINE: Content Filtration Over The Years
> Best, 
> Sana
> 
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Director, Bolo Bhi, Advocacy-Policy-Research [http://bolobhi.org] 
> Blogger: Dawn.com [http://blog.dawn.com/author/sana-saleem/]
> Global Voices: [http://globalvoicesonline.org/author/sana-saleem/]
> The Guardian:[ www.guardian.co.uk/profile/sana-saleem]
> Blog: http://sanasaleem.com] Twitter: @sanasaleem @bolobhi 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Aug 22, 2013 at 12:53 PM, Kabani <kabani.asif at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Sana
>> 
>> Many thanks, Since we are aware of this important development, for National level URL Filtration and Blocking system proposal, hope it not yet in place.  secondly the youtube block, can share any new outcomes or decision on youtube by the court. if any
>> 
>> Sincerely
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -------
>> Stay Connected
>>     
>> About me: http://about.me/kabaniasif
>> 
>> My Blog: Internet Governance and Policy
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>> 
>> 
>> On 21 August 2013 23:43, Sana Saleem <sana at bolobhi.org> wrote:
>>> Hi all, 
>>> 
>>> Many of you have been of great support during our campaign to get Ministry of IT to shelve their plans for a National Level URL Filtration & Blocking System that was announced in February last year, through your consistent support and pressure we were able to get the ministry to shelve the plan last year. 
>>> 
>>> However, as we feared and as now indicated through multiple media statements, the ministry is pursuing their plans and have in fact now indicated that the filters will be provided through an ISP for "free for one year". 
>>> 
>>> As partners and supporters of campaigns run by Civil Society in Pakistan, we are sending out this note to keep you updated on the situation. We've issued a detailed statement regarding the issue alongside extensive resources that we have been producing, including submissions to court in the YouTube case in which our director is Amicus Curiae
>>> 
>>> Here's the link to our statement: http://bolobhi.org/press-releases/minstry-of-it-no-to-internet-filters-censorship/ 
>>> The successful campaign last year which is now being disregarded : http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/11/26/the_fp_100_global_thinkers?page=0,58#thinker100  
>>> Submissions to court: http://bolobhi.org/press-releases/minstry-of-it-no-to-internet-filters-censorship/ 
>>> 
>>> Best, 
>>> Sana 
>>> 
>>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> Director, Bolo Bhi, Advocacy-Policy-Research [http://bolobhi.org] 
>>> Blogger: Dawn.com [http://blog.dawn.com/author/sana-saleem/]
>>> Global Voices: [http://globalvoicesonline.org/author/sana-saleem/]
>>> The Guardian:[ www.guardian.co.uk/profile/sana-saleem]
>>> Blog: http://sanasaleem.com] Twitter: @sanasaleem @bolobhi 
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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