By Minahil Makhdoom
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) on Thursday lifted the bans on popular online game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) and live-streaming application Bigo after meetings with the representatives of both the companies.
The decision comes after a lot of back-and-forth between the state-run regulator, the courts, and the PUBG game’s fans, who had expressed outrage on social media platforms.
The PTA said in a press release it met with the legal representatives of the Proxima Beta Pte. Ltd (PB), the data controlling company, who apprised Pakistani officials “on response to queries raised by PTA with respect to controls put in place by PB to prevent misuse of the gaming platform”.
“The Authority expressed its satisfaction on measures adopted by PB so far, and emphasized on continued engagement and a comprehensive control mechanism.
“The representative of the company welcomed PTA’s feedback on the issue and assured that the concerns of PTA would be taken into account. In addition, the company requested PTA to unban PUBG,” it added.
“Keeping in view the positive engagement & response of the company, the Authority has decided to unban PUBG,” the PTA said on Twitter.
In a separate press release, the regulatory authority explained its ban on Bigo came “as a result of constant engagement and a detailed review by PTA” and meeting with the app’s representatives.
“A meeting was held between PTA Authority Members and Vice President South Asia Operations of Bigo, Mr. Jhon Zhang wherein the representative assured Bigo’s commitment to moderate immoral and indecent content in accordance with Pakistani laws.
“Bigo management assured continued engagement with PTA to address the issue of unlawful content,” the state-run authority added.
‘Decency or morality’
In a detailed order released a couple of days ago following a consultative meeting with citizens, government officials, and PB, the authority had insisted the online game was “highly addictive” and a “wastage of time” and noting that it was necessary to block the online game in the interest of public order.
The game is “destroying youth” and “has a negative impact on physical and psychological health”, according to an 11-page report issued by the PTA.
The PTA had said it was empowered under section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 to remove or block access to information if it considers it necessary in “the interest of the glory of Islam, the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or…public order, decency or morality”.
However, it had acknowledged that there was no exact definition of “decency” and “morality” and said it used the terms in a general sense and considered the “principles of ethics” and “right conduct” when deciding to ban PUBG.
IHC order PUBG ban lifted
Last week, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had ordered the government to lift the ban on PUBG, a decision, which was joyously welcomed by the Pakistani gaming community.
IHC judge, Justice Amir Farooq, had announced the decision while hearing a petition filed against the banning of the game. That decision had come a day after the regulator had announced the PUBG ban would continue.
Back on July 1, the PTA had announced its decision to temporarily suspend PUBG in Pakistan after receiving multiple complaints from different segments of society.
Cases of suicide attributed to game
The authority had said it received numerous complaints against PUBG wherein it was stated that the game is addictive, wastage of time, and poses a serious negative impact on the physical and psychological health of the children.
According to recent media reports, cases of suicide attributed to PUBG game have also been reported.
