Pakistani crackdown on Internet cafes
The war on terror may make porn surfing more difficult in Pakistan.
These Web-savvy young Pakistanis differ little from young people elsewhere in the world. They are drawn to the anonymity of the Internet to make friends, play video games, read news and explore their interest in the opposite sex. But now some worry that a new government measure keeping tabs on Internet cafe users, all in the name of fighting terrorism, could threaten that privacy.
Starting this month, cybercafes will be required to ask patrons for proof of identity and to keep records of users. The previously unregulated Internet cafes also must start registering with the government. Authorities say the new regulations will promote security in a country threatened by terrorist attacks. But patrons like Umar say reporting their names will make them more cautious about visiting certain Web sites, robbing the Internet of some of its allure.
