
On Thursday, Pakistan’s National Assembly took a major step by amending the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act of 2016, giving the government new powers to monitor social media usage across the country.
New Penalties for Misinformation
This amendment introduces specific penalties for those who spread false or misleading information.
Individuals who knowingly distribute such content on digital platforms—especially if it threatens to cause panic or unrest—could face serious repercussions: up to three years in prison, hefty fines reaching as high as two million rupees, or both.
Establishment of Regulatory Authority
To enforce these regulations, authorities are set to create the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, as outlined in the newly added Chapter 1A of the amendments.
This body will not only oversee education about social media but also work to protect the rights and online safety of users.
Additionally, the revised legislation grants the government the authority to manage inappropriate or illegal content on social media platforms accessible from Pakistan.
This includes the power to grant, renew, deny, suspend, or revoke the registration of social media services.
Political Reactions
This legislative development coincided with the introduction of the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, which seeks to leverage digital technologies for the country’s economic advancement and modernization of governmental practices.
Following the amendment’s passage, opposition members, led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), walked out in protest.
The PTI has voiced strong concerns, arguing that this amendment is a tool for stifling free expression and silencing criticism of what they deem an illegitimate government.
They contend that such measures undermine their efforts to restore political and economic autonomy and to foster trust between the government and its citizens.
Source: Jurist