Hello everyone,

We received news yesterday that the Pakistan Telecommunications Agency was directed to restore access to Wikimedia projects, including Wikipedia, in Pakistan. Our internal traffic reports confirm that the block has been lifted and we’ve updated our public statement.

We’re happy that the people of Pakistan can continue to use Wikipedia to access knowledge and share their experiences and culture with the world. These situations are a reminder of the importance of the work of our movement and the vital role our communities play in building the largest collection of open knowledge in history. It also underscores the need to protect people’s right to access free knowledge and participate in contributing to its growth globally. Thank you for your support. We’ll continue to keep you updated if there are any new developments.

Best,

Stephen

On Fri, Feb 3, 2023 at 5:32 PM Stephen LaPorte <slaporte@wikimedia.org> wrote:

Hello everyone,

Today, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) ordered that access to Wikipedia be suspended in Pakistan. We are urging the Pakistan government to restore access to Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects immediately.

This action denies the fifth most populous nation in the world access to the world's largest, free online knowledge repository. If it continues, it will also deny the world the perspective of the people of Pakistan and the benefit of their knowledge, history, and culture.

The Wikimedia Foundation received a notification from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority on February 1, 2023, stating “the services of Wikipedia have been degraded for 48 hours” for failure to remove content from the site deemed “unlawful” by the government. The notification further mentioned that a block of Wikipedia could follow, if the Foundation did not comply with the takedown orders. As of Friday February 3, our internal traffic reports indicate that Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects are no longer accessible to users in Pakistan.

The Wikimedia Foundation is already examining various avenues and investigating how we can help restore access, while staying true to our values of verifiability, neutrality, and freedom of information.

We are also prepared to support any members of the Wikimedia communities who are impacted. If you or someone you know is contacted by the Pakistani government in reference to the block, please contact us at legal@wikimedia.org. If you or someone you know is in immediate physical danger in reference to the block, please contact emergency@wikimedia.org right away. We are actively working to reach out to community leaders in the area.

For over twenty years, our movement has supported knowledge as a fundamental human right. In defense of this right, we have opposed a growing number of threats that would interfere with the ability of people to access and contribute to free knowledge. We know that many of you will want to take action or speak out against the block. For now, please continue to do what is needed to remain safe. We will keep you updated on any new developments, actions we are taking, and ways which you can help return access to Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects in Pakistan.

Thank you,
Stephen

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Stephen LaPorte (he/him/his)
General Counsel
Wikimedia Foundation

NOTICE: As an attorney for the Wikimedia Foundation, for legal and ethical reasons, I cannot give legal advice to, or serve as a lawyer for, community members, volunteers, or staff members in their personal capacity. For more on what this means, please see our legal disclaimer.