Pakistan lifts YouTube restrictions

Pakistan today lifted restrictions on YouTube that knocked out access to the video-sharing web site in many countries for up to two hours over the weekend.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority told internet service providers to restore access to the site after the removal of what it called a “blasphemous” video clip, a spokesman said.

Pakistan ordered the site blocked on Friday over a clip featuring a Dutch MP who has said he planned to release a movie portraying Islam as fascist and prone to inciting violence against women and homosexuals.

The spokesman said attempts to access the offending clip today brought up a message explaining that it had been removed on ethical grounds.

While several other videos featuring the politician, Geert Wilders, would remain visible to Pakistani internet users, the one which was removed had been “totally anti-Koranic” and “very blasphemous.”

The authority aimed to restrict the site only in Pakistan, but the move inadvertently cut access for many of the world’s internet users for up to two hours on Sunday.

“We are investigating and working with others in the internet community to prevent this from happening again,” YouTube said.

Pakistan said it was not responsible for “technical hitches” which may have lead to problems elsewhere.