<story><title>Pakistani gov degrades Wikipedia connections due to blasphemy</title><url>https://www.pta.gov.pk/en/media-center/single-media/wikipedia-services-degraded-over-unlawful-content-010223</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>beardyw</author><text>I am trying to think why Wikipedia would care about this. They offer a free service - if you don&amp;#x27;t want it that&amp;#x27;s just disappointing.</text></item><item><author>flipbrad</author><text>&amp;quot;Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has degraded Wikipedia services in the country on account of not blocking &amp;#x2F; removing sacrilegious contents.&lt;p&gt;Wikipedia was approached for blocking &amp;#x2F; removal of the said contents by issuing a notice under applicable law and court order(s). An opportunity of hearing was also provided, however, the platform neither complied by removing the blasphemous content nor appeared before the Authority.&lt;p&gt;Given the intentional failure on part of the platform to comply with the directions of PTA, the services of Wikipedia have been degraded for 48 hours with the direction to block &amp;#x2F; remove the reported contents. In case of non-compliance by Wikipedia the platform will be blocked within Pakistan.&lt;p&gt;The restoration of the services of Wikipedia will be reconsidered subject to blocking &amp;#x2F; removal of the reported unlawful contents. PTA is committed to ensuring a safe online experience for all Pakistani citizens according to local laws.&amp;quot;</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>throwaway09223</author><text>They don&amp;#x27;t care. They know people can get around the blocks.&lt;p&gt;Wikipedia is more valuable with accurate content, even if some countries make it harder to access.</text></comment>
<story><title>Pakistani gov degrades Wikipedia connections due to blasphemy</title><url>https://www.pta.gov.pk/en/media-center/single-media/wikipedia-services-degraded-over-unlawful-content-010223</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>beardyw</author><text>I am trying to think why Wikipedia would care about this. They offer a free service - if you don&amp;#x27;t want it that&amp;#x27;s just disappointing.</text></item><item><author>flipbrad</author><text>&amp;quot;Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has degraded Wikipedia services in the country on account of not blocking &amp;#x2F; removing sacrilegious contents.&lt;p&gt;Wikipedia was approached for blocking &amp;#x2F; removal of the said contents by issuing a notice under applicable law and court order(s). An opportunity of hearing was also provided, however, the platform neither complied by removing the blasphemous content nor appeared before the Authority.&lt;p&gt;Given the intentional failure on part of the platform to comply with the directions of PTA, the services of Wikipedia have been degraded for 48 hours with the direction to block &amp;#x2F; remove the reported contents. In case of non-compliance by Wikipedia the platform will be blocked within Pakistan.&lt;p&gt;The restoration of the services of Wikipedia will be reconsidered subject to blocking &amp;#x2F; removal of the reported unlawful contents. PTA is committed to ensuring a safe online experience for all Pakistani citizens according to local laws.&amp;quot;</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>kemayo</author><text>An ideological commitment to free knowledge, mostly. It&amp;#x27;s upsetting to be cut off from people who could use it.</text></comment>