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Pakistan's communications regulator, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority, has been exploring censorship for words deemed too inappropriate for texting. There are mixed reports about whether or not the changes have taken effect yet, but it should be any day now according to a letter sent to mobile operators from watchdog director, Muhammad Talib Doger.
The amalgamation of offensive words contains roughly 1,600 entries and is comprised of about two-thirds English words and one-third Urdu, Pakistan's national language. The document was leaked onto Google Docs, but public permission to that item has since been pulled at the time of this writing. However, a version of the list made it here (warning: explicit language) which contains all of the current English words and phrases.
A mobile operator representative told the AFP news agency:
"There are more than 1,600 words in the list including indecent language, expletives, swear words, slang etc, which have to be filtered. The filtering is not good for the system and may degrade the quality of network services—plus it would be a great inconvenience to our subscribers if their SMS was not delivered due to the wrong choice of words"
Blocked language includes the likes of "flogging the dolphin", "tongue", "hobo", "Kumquat", "Axing the weasel", "Got Jesus", "hole" and "Satan". While many of the words and euphemisms included are unmistakable obscenities, many require a vivid imagination and some just seem non sequitur. Among the censored phrases are swaths of religious references, words used in every day speech, names of football players and other "pro-western" language. Needless to say, some Pakistanis feel their constitutional free speech rights are being violated, resulting in various open letters and lots of activity on Twitter.
Mohammad Younis, a PTA spokesman claims the ban was a, "result of numerous meetings and consultations with stakeholders," and went on to point out that "nobody would like this happening to their young boy or girl." Mr. Younis also added that the list was never intended to be distributed publicly and was only intended to be used for testing purposes. According to the spokesman, a more finalized, shorter list will be released after more consultation is done.
Another PTA regulator also told mobile operators that constitutionally guaranteed free speech is "not unrestricted", as shown by precedents set in Pakistani courts. The official also pointed out that PTA has a responsibility to prevent "obnoxious communication", suggesting that PTA feels it is within its bounds.
User Comments: 48
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PTA has backed off from this decision.
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The problem is that jokes on Pakistani Govt. officials are cracked through SMS. So, naturally Govt. has instructed PTA to stop this.
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treetops said:
People in Pak have cell phones?
If I remember correctly, they are 6th or 7th largest market, and one of the fastest growing cell phone market. Anyway, it is prime example of stupidity at its worst to 'censor' stuff. I mean if anyone want to avoid this filtering, they simply have to type 'A S S' ............ and I can understand why 'blow***' is banned, but what is wrong with words like 'Blackout, Damn, Hostage ......' etc. Hell 'Dong' is currency of Vietnam (as far as I can remember).
The problem is that jokes on Pakistani Govt. officials are cracked through SMS. So, naturally Govt. has instructed PTA to stop this.I don't think they will be able to stop them in anyway as it is pretty easy to by pass these filters IMO.
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spydercanopus said:
Archean said:If I remember correctly, they are 6th or 7th largest market, and one of the fastest growing cell phone market.
If you don't count the ones used in car bombs, their ranking is much lower.
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Drunk, barf, K Mart, and glazed donut are banned?
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Bill has been deferred as it was challenged in the court. Apparently the bill was sponsored by the ruling elite as they do not share the same sense of humor the general public has.
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Archean said:treetops said:
People in Pak have cell phones?
If I remember correctly, they are 6th or 7th largest market, and one of the fastest growing cell phone market. Anyway, it is prime example of stupidity at its worst to 'censor' stuff. I mean if anyone want to avoid this filtering, they simply have to type 'A S S' ............ and I can understand why 'blow***' is banned, but what is wrong with words like 'Blackout, Damn, Hostage ......' etc. Hell 'Dong' is currency of Vietnam (as far as I can remember).
The problem is that jokes on Pakistani Govt. officials are cracked through SMS. So, naturally Govt. has instructed PTA to stop this.I don't think they will be able to stop them in anyway as it is pretty easy to by pass these filters IMO.
In any case it will not last long.
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spydercanopus said:Archean said:
If I remember correctly, they are 6th or 7th largest market, and one of the fastest growing cell phone market.
If you don't count the ones used in car bombs, their ranking is much lower.
Well that's simply not true. People really have lots of phones.
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hahahahaha... ! these words could be banned if translated properly in English
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I'm just wondering if Techspot is based in Pakistan these days?
When words like ***** and ***** are censored there is some cause for concern...
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While "flogging the dolphin", I ended up getting "athletes foot". To make matters worse while "Axing the weasel", I tripped over a "hobo" fell into a "hole" and bit my "tongue". I said "Satan" you no longer have me for I "Got Jesus".
I feel so much better knowing I can post all that.
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This is why it bothers me when people in America cry oppresion when they can't pirate music.
We don't even know what oppression is.
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milwaukeemike said:
This is why it bothers me when people in America cry oppresion when they can't pirate music.
We don't even know what oppression is.
Peaceful protesters being pepper-sprayed in the face?
People with skin tone X not being allowed into the same areas as people with skin tone Y?
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well who are we to judge, when i watch american 'reality' tv all i hear is bleep bleep bleep.
over here in Europe at least we can hear the swearing in our own programs...
so do u really want to laugh at the pakistani?
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Did they also censored the words "Pakistan", "USA", "Techspot"... ?
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If your blocking words like "Athletes foot" and "Tongue" you might as well call your self a retard and end your life so no one can see where stupidity really came from.@Guest, there's no need to include words such as 'end your life' in your comment. If that's stupid I don't know what is.This sort of thing always brings a tear of joy to my eye around the holidays. Mortal, but ineffective and unarmed mental combat between 2 "distinguished" guests. Guest trolling guest, and being brought together by Techspot....
I think the Pakistani government should focus on more important things such as their nuclear weapons program, or expanding the scope and quality of lodging to be used for harboring international terrorists.
I think the Pakistani people should get off the damned phone, and concentrate on breeding more Pakistanis. I'll be very disappointed in them if they can't come up with another 1/2 billion or so people they can't feed, or clothe either, in the next 20 years or so.........
I would be very aroused if you let me smell your athlete's feet, while you call me Jesus.....fap,fap, fap.........
I guess I'm not ready for prime time in Pakistan....
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...and 3...2...1... Rofl
...and check your mail!...preferably in a more expeditious manner than I do.
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fimbles said:
As guest said above, Im sure they are a lot worse in their native tongue, and true meanings are lost in translation.
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As guest said above, Im sure they are a lot worse in their native tongue, and true meanings are lost in translation.Really, how ambiguous or malevolent can the term "athlete's feet" be? Unless you insinuate the infection has spread to the IM recipient's crotch........
I hope this wave of censorship doesn't spread to India. You'll never get CS reps. Dwight or Clementine to help, you since they'd have every excuse in the world to simply hang up on you.
Something like this, "hello, this anti-fungal creme you sold me does absolutely nothing for my athlete's foot...................Buzz.......Buzz.....Buzz......buzz...
....hello,,,,,,,hello...... -
If you don't count the ones used in car bombs, their ranking is much lower.
There are over 100 million cell phone users in Pakistan (from what I could find on the net) so ..........
I think the Pakistani government should focus on more important things such as their nuclear weapons program, or expanding the scope and quality of lodging to be used for harboring international terrorists.Problem is they need Americans to do this, just like Americans were always there during the 1970s-80s-90s Afghan war to fund and arm all these terrorists and terrorist groups ........... the only paradigm which has changed now is that this time around it is US which is facing 'not so honorable exit' instead of ruskies.
By the way Captain many many years ago I read an article of some swedish professor, covering different aspects of Pakistani economy, available natural and human resources, based on this I can assure you if they have 'right and honorable' people to run the show, that country can become California of Asia in 15-25 years time. But as it is, rampant corruption and incompetence rules, by the way I think many western nations too have this problem. One example of incompetence can be American Govt.'s tactic of 'printing' their out of this economic mess, instead of taking concrete steps to correct the wrongs of 1990s and first decade of 21st century. I haven't had time to dig deeper into motives of 'Occupy Wall Street' movement, but I think it could be a case where general public have started to realize how they are being robbed of means of decent living, education, health care etc. although what they can achieve only time will tell.
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Problem is they need Americans to do this, just like Americans were always there during the 1970s-80s-90s Afghan war to fund and arm all these terrorists and terrorist groups ........... the only paradigm which has changed now is that this time around it is US which is facing 'not so honorable exit' instead of ruskies.Well, sometimes you get the "bear", and sometimes the "bear" gets you.By the way Captain many many years ago I read an article of some swedish professor, covering different aspects of Pakistani economy, available natural and human resources, based on this I can assure you if they have 'right and honorable' people to run the show, that country can become California of Asia in 15-25 years time.Well, "professors" tend to be somewhat "cloistered" and suffer a disconnect from reality because of it. Which is a civil way of saying they have their heads up their a**es, except of course, during the "tenure" of their 2 hour lunch breaks.
The simple facts are, that Pakistanis breed like lice, and if they were capable of self governance, don't you think that would have happened by now? I love how everybody points to governments as the problem. Governments are Darwinian in nature, in that the strong subjugate the weak. Good government are subtle , and they supply the governed sheep with sufficient quantities of iPhones to shut them up. Bad governments then censor the phione calls. That's pretty much the primary difference.
But as it is, rampant corruption and incompetence rules, by the way I think many western nations too have this problem.Take the sovereign state of New Jersey for exampleOne example of incompetence can be American Govt.'s tactic of 'printing' their out of this economic mess, instead of taking concrete steps to correct the wrongs of 1990s and first decade of 21st century.You're preaching to the choir.I haven't had time to dig deeper into motives of 'Occupy Wall Street' movement, but I think it could be a case where general public have started to realize how they are being robbed of means of decent living, education, health care etc. although what they can achieve only time will tell.The longer the "Occupy Movement" goes on, I think you'll find that more and more will be forgotten about their message, and more and more will be remembered about the tents, public nuisance, and crapping in the streets.As David Letterman pointed out, the score is 260+ occupy protesters arrested, Wall Street Bankers, zero. In this game however, the lower score wins.
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Governments are Darwinian in nature
Judging how most "governments" work they are also Larmarckian in nature- the ongoing dynamic of self-preservation...unless of course you're attempting to add experience to a cracked container (G.H.Bush to G.W.Bush for example)
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Judging how most "governments" work they are also Larmarckian in nature- the ongoing dynamic of self-preservation...unless of course you're attempting to add experience to a cracked container (G.H.Bush to G.W.Bush for example)Well, Lamarck was a well known crackpot, so point taken. But, self preservation is central to Darwinian philosophy as well. That said, as in the cases of the Bush dynasty, evolution occasionally gets it wrong. The best possible outcome in this example, would be to have the species die out....
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