The Guardian of London reports that across the airwaves in Pakistan, certain “rude” words are being outlawed from being transmitted in text messages. Some may find this uproarious but the fact of the matter is that Pakistan is still a very volatile place and the rule of law may be something of an evolving concept.
Pakistan’s telecommunications regulator has issued a strict list of more than 1000 words and phrases which are not to be used across the mobile phone texting airwaves. To those in the United States who text all manner of whatever is on their minds at any time, this may seem laughable, at best, or more likely a travesty worthy of revolt.
It doesn’t look like there is going to be any “occupations” in Pakistan anytime soon though. Having a look over this proposed list, the freedom-bred individual who has never known any real oppression may find this list tame. The list issued by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has many words which people may expect and many which people may not.
Among those which may seem harmless to domestic eyes include “flatulence,” “deposit” and “fondle.”
The list also includes phrases like “love pistol,” and “pocket pool.” Some phrases include more colorful language like “flogging the dolphin.” While these phrases may have double entendre built in depending on the way you read them, they hardly seem worthy of being forbidden. Yet that is what Pakistan is attempting to do.
In order to enforce this restriction, mobile phone companies are forced to stop messages including the offensive words. Unsurprisingly tests conducted by the Guardian indicate that the blocking technology was not 100% effective.
Pakistan’s constitution guarantees free speech but the PTA has said that freedom is “not unrestricted.” The PTA also allowed they have “obligations” to prevent “Obnoxious communication.”
According to the report PTA director Muhammad Talib Doger said “the system should be implemented within seven days…and a report submitted to PTA on a monthly basis on the number of blocked SMSs”
There were 1,109 words and phrases in English which were to be banned. There were also 586 in the national language, Urdu.
Looking forward, mobile phone carriers promise to be fined for banned words which make it past watchful eye. As a result repeat offenders may get their service discontinued entirely.
So will this list of words wind up being the cause of further unrest in an already volatile place like Pakistan? We’ll have to wait and see.
Source:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/17/butt-out-pakistan-telecom-text-ban?newsfeed=true
