Social media platforms have connected the world in digital space and allowed everyday people, even in far-flung rural villages, to see what is happening around them. It has also allowed its users to manipulate the information and circulate information and opinion broadly based on their individual will. Though it has given the opportunity to the […]
KARACHI: Facebook widely helping the Non Government Organisation (NGOs) to spread their services among the needy and underprivileged people. According to a study, 43 percent of Pakistan’s citizens remain food insecure and 18 percent face an acute food shortage. This implies that, on any given day, almost 39 million Pakistanis are unaware of where their […]
KARACHI: While the world observed Telecommunication and Information Society Day on Sunday (May 17), social networking site Twitter was inaccessible to users in Pakistan for almost two hours. The platform’s website, app and video streaming service Periscope were inaccessible across the country from around 10pm till 1.30am, with news feeds refusing to refresh. Despite this, […]
Popular social networking site, Twitter, was down in Pakistan, from a little after 10pm on Sunday. Despite this, #TwitterDown was the top trend in the country. Internet blockage observatory NetBlocks confirmed the disruption to Twitter and Periscope “with multiple impact to multiple networks”. A screengrab of the information tweeted by NetBlocks. In a later tweet, […]
We have spent a decade discussing the problems posed by social media platforms and looked at issues such as filter bubbles, echo chambers, information silos, viral virus, misogynist trolling and amplification of toxic content. The platform companies have now started acknowledging their role in vitiating the information universe and undermining the lives of millions. Last […]
KARACHI: Of the 15,826 content restrictions made by Facebook globally during July-December 2019, Russia, Pakistan and Mexico accounted for almost half of global content restrictions, according to the platform’s transparency report released on Tuesday. Facebook restricted 2,300 items within Pakistan (the second highest after Russia with 2,900 pieces removed) during the second half of 2019. […]
KARACHI: Last week, Facebook appointed 20 people from around the world to serve on what will effectively be the social media network’s “Supreme Court” for speech, issuing rulings on what kind of posts will be allowed and what should be taken down. The list features a former prime minister, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and […]
Turkish television series Resurrection: Ertugrul is set to break a world record of most new subscribers in a month on YouTube. After being aired on the state-run Pakistan Television (PTV), TRT Ertugrul by PTV, the serial’s YouTube channel, crossed 1 million subscribers. “Now, it’s time to make history by reaching 6.6 million subscribers before May […]
ISLAMABAD: YouTube said it would provide $5 million to Pakistan to help the country tackle the coronavirus pandemic. Pakistan has recorded just over 640 deaths but experts have voiced fears that the country of 215 million people could see a rapid and devastating increase due to its shortage of medical infrastructure and crowded cities. Meanwhile, […]
Pakistani internet activist has been appointed on Facebook’s new content oversight board, which will be able to overturn decisions by the company and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg on which content should be allowed on Facebook and Instagram. “As a longtime advocate of free expression, privacy, and digital rights, I’m pleased to announce that I have […]
ISLAMABAD: Recognizing the significance of communications as a tool for public information during the Coronavirus epidemic, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Thursday notified the creation of a three-member Media Cell led by the hospital’s deputy director coordination. The Media Cell will create official accounts of PIMS on Twitter, Facebook and related social media […]
ISLAMABAD: Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has planned to introduce an SMS based feedback mechanism aimed to receive the public feedback over the ongoing governments’ initiative of ‘Teleschool.’ According to the sources from FDE on Monday, the Teleschool transmission was successfully underway with new content being added every week. The sources further added, besides introducing […]
ISLAMABAD: The measures taken by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) during the lockdown being observed to stem the spread of coronavirus have resulted in the decline of cybercrime cases — including financial crimes – across the country. The data analysis of complaints at the cybercrime wing (CCW) unveiled a substantial decline in the rate of online […]
ISLAMABAD: A recent online abusive trend on social media against Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shirin Mazari and senior anchorperson Hamid Mir forced ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to identify some groups and individuals within its own ranks creating hatred and divisions when the state needs unity to fight against COVID-19. An abusive campaign against Dr. […]
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