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Witnesses tell Congress Google removed Pakistani critics’ YouTube channels amid pressure; journalists face exile and assassination
Summary
Panelists at a congressional hearing said Pakistan’s government pressured digital platforms to remove critics, described widespread censorship and the exile or assassination of journalists, and urged U.S. congressional pressure on tech companies.
“Google shouldn't be looking to local corridors in Pakistan for what to do,” Jared Genser, a human rights lawyer testifying to the commission, said of recent platform takedowns. “They should be looking to its own standards,” he said, arguing YouTube should apply its global content rules rather than comply with arbitrary local orders.
Panelists told the commission that Pakistan’s authorities and magistrates have pressured Google and other platforms to remove or restrict access to channels critical of the government, including…
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