A petition has been submitted to the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking an emergency prohibition on widely used social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. The federal government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) have been joined as parties to the case.
The petitioner asserts that the unregulated use of social media has led to a proliferation of unethical practices. “Every other person in Pakistan has a YouTube channel, which is being used for blackmailing and uploading immoral content. Immoral videos are being uploaded and views are being gained to generate money,” the petition states.
It also highlights concerns over fake videos and the alleged misuse of platforms to earn money through unethical means. “Any type of video can be uploaded on YouTube and Facebook without any license,” the petition states.
The petition claims that content creators are undermining societal norms by featuring female family members in their vlogs, resulting in the decline of traditional family values. The request calls for the court to mandate the enforcement of regulations aimed at safeguarding citizens in the realm of social media platforms. It also demands that users obtain mandatory licenses to upload content on these sites.
A miscellaneous petition has been submitted to the LHC concerning the recent decrease in internet speed and the shutdown of X. The petition contends that limiting access to X infringes upon fundamental human rights and leads to considerable financial detriment for individuals.
“Citizens are losing millions of rupees due to a reduction in internet speed. It is a critical matter and main petition should be scheduled for hearing,” the plea urged. “The court should restore access to X and address the reduction in internet speed.”
