Content moderation: PTA to get into suitable arrangement with Twitter, Gmail

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is striving to get into a suitable arrangement with Twitter and Gmail for content moderation as per the law to control cyber crimes in the country. This was revealed by PTA while responding to Business Recorder list of questions which took the PTA 16 days to respond.

When asked if PTA deals with online harassment which has gone unpunished in several cases due to the non-sharing of data with Pakistani authorities the response was that apprehension of harassment is not PTA's subject/mandate.

Business Recorder asked whether grey trafficking which is continuing in the country despite biometric verification and posing serious security threat and loss to the national exchequer PTA stated that grey traffic is essentially concealment of incoming international telephone calls (traffic) which are terminated on Fixed and Mobile networks by using illegal channels and other means for the purpose of avoiding taxes/levies adding that "biometric verification is related to the proper issuance of SIMs and is not a direct measure to control grey traffic. Furthermore, grey traffic is terminated through mobile connections as well as other fixed line termination channels.

By virtue of its inherent design, Biometric Verification System (BVS) cannot capture instances of issuance of grey SIMs as a SIM is activated automatically after fulfilling of laid down steps/ system checks."

"Grey SIMs<" PTA responded "are either issued by defrauding people through different means by getting their finger impressions in real-time or by misuse of their captured finger impressions on silicon sheets in offline mode. To curb the menace of grey traffic, PTA has adopted a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach. Some details are as below: (i) strengthening of BVS to minimize misuse - these include introduction of Live Finger Detect (LFD) based BVS machines, broadcasting of SIM count to each subscriber, etc; (ii) action against violating sale channels by CMOs - including imposition of fines, suspension and termination of sale channels; (iii) action against Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) by PTA. Show Cause Notices were served to some mobile operators for involvement of their sale channels in issuance of grey SIMs; (iv) the cases of issuance of grey SIMs are regularly being shared with FIA. Based on the information, a number of raids have been conducted by FIA and PTA wherein gangs involved in illegal activation of SIMs have been apprehended; (v) to counter grey traffic, PTA monitors IP bandwidth for identifying illegal calls brought via internet and forwards the cases to FIA for action across the country. This involves extensive investigation and hard work; (vi) 41 raids against grey traffickers have been conducted along with FIA from Aug 2018-till date. A total of 157 illegal gateways have been confiscated. 32 persons were arrested by FIA in these raids; and (vii) to control grey traffic, PTA has also deployed technical systems to detect grey calls. The System blocks voice calls coming through unauthorized grey channels.

In result of above mentioned technical and regulatory steps undertaken by PTA, grey traffic has decreased considerably to more than half in last three months while white traffic is also increasing gradually."

In response to another question about framing "Citizen Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020", aimed at ensuring prevention of online content related to terrorism, extremism, hate speech, defamation, fake news, incitement to violence and national security, PTA stated that rules have been discussed in consultation during the Committee meeting and in final scrutiny by the CC members. They will be posted on PTA website once approved by the Committee. These Rules are a mandatory part of PECA 2016. To implement the law, Rules are required to lay out the mechanisms for protecting citizens from online harm.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020