The National Social Media Coordination Working Group (NSMCWG) on Tuesday met representatives of Meta, parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, to discuss initiatives by the social media giant to support the government’s digital transformation drive, according to Express Tribune.
Prime Minister Imran Khan had constituted the NSMCWG in October 2021 to streamline engagement with digital platforms and work on relevant policies related to social media.
In the meeting with the NSMCWG, Meta representatives briefed the government on their initiatives that contribute to digital literacy, inclusion and enablement.
They also discussed prospective collaboration efforts in the areas of connectivity, tools and systems for removing harmful content, compliance with local laws, rules and regulatory framework, and ways to support local content creators.
The working group also conveyed its concerns regarding effective and timely moderation of harmful and illegal content across the Meta platforms.
Both sides showed willingness for continued engagement to improve mechanics and cooperation on content moderation and compliance with local laws.
Members of the group appreciated Meta’s future plans for increased presence on Pakistan’s digital map.
Moreover, Meta and the working group agreed to explore the idea of setting up a ‘community lab’ in Pakistan by collaborating with academia, incubation centres, startups and telecom service providers.
The lab would offer a platform to develop and test innovative technology solutions to help grow the connectivity ecosystem in Pakistan.
