Pakistan wants Facebook, Twitter help

Pakistan has turned to tech giants Facebook and Twitter to help it identify those suspected of blasphemy.

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Pakistan turn to tech giants Facebook and Twitter to help it identify those suspected of blasphemy. (AAP)

Pakistan has asked Facebook and Twitter to help it identify people suspected of blasphemy so it can prosecute them or pursue their extradition.

Under Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws, anyone found to have insulted Islam or the Prophet Muhammad can be sentenced to death.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said an official in Pakistan's Washington embassy had approached the two social media companies in an effort to identify Pakistanis, either within the country or abroad, who recently shared material deemed offensive to Islam.

He said Pakistani authorities have identified 11 people for questioning over alleged blasphemy and would seek the extradition of anyone living abroad.

Facebook said it reviewed all government requests carefully "with the goal of protecting the privacy and rights of our users".

"We disclose information about accounts solely in accordance with our terms of service and applicable law. A Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty or other formal request may be required for international requests, and we include these in our Government Requests Report", which is publicised each year, it said in a statement.

Twitter declined to comment.


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Source: AAP


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Pakistan wants Facebook, Twitter help | SBS News