Net service providers warned of legal action

KABUL): The communications and information technology minister on Sunday warned private internet service-providers of cancelling their licences if they failed to filter and block unwanted websites.

“Though net cafes have been asked to block websites which are un-Islamic and against Afghan traditions, yet some of them continue disregarding the warning,” Amirzai Sangin said.

In May 2010, his ministry in coordination with the Ministry of Information and Culture banned porn websites. But still some companies were not abiding by the decision, the minister said.

He asked the Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ATRA) to identify and interrogate violators of the decision. “Viewing immoral websites is against Islam and Afghanistan’s constitution,” he remarked.

Access to pornographic sites could mislead the youth, Sangin said, adding 18 months were enough for the companies to filter immoral websites. He promised close monitoring and legal action against firms failing to block the sites. “Work permits of such companies will be canceled.”

Officials say there are more than 40 internet service-providers in Afghanistan. Currently, only four percent of the population has access to the internet service, which will be increased to 50 percent by 2014.

frm/ma/mud