Pakistan’s telecoms watchdog, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, has decided that mobile phone operators in that country must block all text messages using offensive words. The list contains over 1 600 words and phrases including, “flogging the dolphin”. Some linguistic purists are expected to be delighted by the move that comes into force today, while George Orwell turns in his grave.

As with many less-developed countries around the world, Pakistan’s mobile phone use is widespread, including in remote village regions.

But English language sexting and other invasive grammar have begun to occupy the SMS realms, so the authorities decided to do something about it.

Mobile phone network operators were given a list of words and phrases deemed offensive by the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority last week. The networks were then ordered to filter these words from SMS text messages as of today.

Muhammad Talib Doger, the PTA’s Director General for services, explained:

The right of free speech extends to all subjects which affects way of life without limitation of any particular fact.

However, right of freedom of speech and expression is not unfettered and unbridled.

The PTA’s list has been drawn up after months of consultations with mobile phone operators, and is part of a larger effort to halt spam messages.

The list of offensive words and terms managed to make itself onto the internet after it was leaked, and it has since become the subject of a number of jokes.

Some of the funnier bans include: “quickie”, “fairy”, “flatulence” and “love pistol”, but the banning of “Jesus Christ” has caused a few arguments amongst Christians in Pakistan.

You can have a look at the list here, NSFW obviously.

Mobile network operators were expected to face fines if offensive language was found to be getting through the system.

[Source: TimesOfIndia]