After restricting access to the website for 48 hours, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) stated on Friday that it was suspending access to Wikipedia due to the site’s reluctance to remove sacrilegious information. Now that their side of the story has been presented, the Wikimedia Foundation has posted a statement on their official Twitter account.
Wikipedia Narrative
On 1 February, we received a notification from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority stating, “the services of Wikipedia have been degraded for 48 hours” for failure to remove content deemed “unlawful.” As of 3 February, our data shows this has extended into a full block.”
On 1 February, we received a notification from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority stating “the services of Wikipedia have been degraded for 48 hours” for failure to remove content deemed “unlawful.” As of 3 February, our data shows this has extended into a full block. (2/4)
— Wikimedia Foundation (@Wikimedia) February 4, 2023
The Foundation stressed that everyone has the right to access knowledge, and that by limiting Wikipedia, PTA was depriving a nation with the fifth-largest population in the world of that right.
They urged the Pakistani government to lift the ban and permit Wikipedia to operate freely inside Pakistan.
“We believe that access to knowledge is a human right. A block of @Wikipedia in Pakistan denies the 5th most populous nation in the world access to the largest free knowledge repository. If it continues, it will also deprive everyone access to Pakistan’s history and culture. We hope that the Pakistan government joins us in a commitment to knowledge as a human right and restores access to @Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects promptly, so that the people of Pakistan can continue to receive and share knowledge with the world.”
We believe that access to knowledge is a human right. A block of @Wikipedia in Pakistan denies the 5th most populous nation in the world access to the largest free knowledge repository. If it continues, it will also deprive everyone access to Pakistan’s history and culture. (3/4)
— Wikimedia Foundation (@Wikimedia) February 4, 2023
We hope that the Pakistan government joins us in a commitment to knowledge as a human right and restores access to @Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects promptly, so that the people of Pakistan can continue to receive and share knowledge with the world. (4/4)https://t.co/8xM73if9B2
— Wikimedia Foundation (@Wikimedia) February 4, 2023
To read our blog on “Wikipedia blocked by PTA, not to remove profane content,” click here.
