DIGITAL X

Online arm of DIGITALX magazine, the source for news and trends in technology business, gadgets, the Web, government policies, mobile, and social media. Published in Lagos, Nigeria.

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November 21st, 4:27pm 0 comments

In Pakistan It Will Soon Be Illegal to Say 'SEX' in a Text Message

Pakistan

The Pakistani Telecommunications Authority, PTA, on November 14 released a list of 1,695 terms that it thinks are "offensive and obscene." Sex is one of them. So are Jesus Christ, SIX SIX SIX, Atheletes Foot, Back Door, Boobs, Fairy, and Cock.

The government agency gave a seven-day notice to all mobile services provider to start filtering these words from text messages so as to curb SMS spamming. That ultimatum expired today but the administration has added that it would exclude the weekend break - Saturday and Sunday - from seven-day period. The Pakistan Telecommunication Act of 1996 prohibits the transmission of messages that are "false, fabricated, indecent or obscene."

Reactions from mobile operators has been loud, though. Omar Manzur, a spokesman for Mobilink, the leading telco in Pakistan told the AFP: "Obviously there are concerns and we have reservations. The regulation will be implemented only after mutual agreement between the PTA and us."

The PTA has previously blocked websites considered pornographic or offensive to Islam, it's not clear yet if it will exercise its legal authority if mobile companies resist this move to rewrite the dictionary of urban communication.

Posted by Sam Adeoye