ISLAMABAD — On Thursday, Pakistan’s National Assembly approved a contentious new bill granting the government extensive authority over social media, which includes jail time for individuals disseminating misinformation.
The swift passage of this legislation occurred after members of the opposition party, linked to the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, staged a walkout to protest the new law. Critics argue that this move further encroaches upon the freedom of expression.
Farhatullah Babar, a prominent human rights advocate, emphasized that the amendments proposed to the cybercrime statute are designed to “further curtail freedom of expression” by establishing numerous agencies under governmental oversight that amplify the reach of unaccountable intelligence organizations. He noted that the legislation confers extensive powers to the government over both the content shared online and the platforms distributing that content.
This new measure, known as the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, would enable authorities to form a dedicated agency with the capability to immediately instigate the blocking of any content considered “unlawful and offensive” on social media, particularly comments critical of judicial figures, military personnel, or legislative bodies. The law also states that both individuals and organizations responsible for such postings could be barred from using social media.
Additionally, social media platforms will be mandated to register with the forthcoming Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, facing potential temporary or permanent bans for non-compliance. Under this law, disseminating misinformation is classified as a criminal act, which could lead to a sentence of three years in prison and a financial penalty of 2 million rupees (approximately $7,150).
Journalist and editor unions expressed their discontent with the bill soon after its passage.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar defended the legislation, asserting that its sole purpose is to curtail the spread of false information and hate speech. He assured reporters in Islamabad that he remained open to addressing concerns from the journalistic community and insisted that the law was not designed to restrict the work of electronic media and journalists.
This legislative action follows an incident nearly a year ago when the Pakistani government blocked access to the X platform prior to an election that Khan’s opposition claims was manipulated. Although X remains inaccessible in Pakistan, many users employ virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass restrictions, similar to practices in other nations with stringent internet regulations.
Imran Khan maintains a substantial following on social media, particularly on X, where supporters actively advocate for his release. Khan has been incarcerated since 2023 after being convicted of corruption-related charges. His party continues to utilize social media as a means to organize protests.
The opposition leader condemned the bill, arguing it serves to further diminish freedom of speech. Omar Ayub Khan, who is not related to the jailed ex-premier, stated that this legislation could establish a framework for silencing those advocating for constitutional rights.
On the same day, the PTI announced it would cease negotiations with the government in the lead-up to a January 28 deadline regarding talks with Khan. Gohar Ali Khan, PTI’s chairman, disclosed this decision just weeks after commencing discussions aimed at securing the release of the former prime minister and addressing other issues.
Recent years have witnessed escalating censorship within Pakistani media. Journalists report facing governmental pressure to refrain from mentioning Imran Khan, with countless television stations relegating him to being referred to solely as the “founder of the PTI.”
Human rights organizations and unions for journalists are pledging to contest the new law, but with the government’s majority power, the law’s enactment seems almost inevitable.
Afzal Butt, president of the Federal Union of Journalists, declared that this legislation represents an attempt to stifle media freedom, encompassing both traditional and social media, as well as affecting journalists’ work.
The government maintains that this law is necessary to combat the proliferation of false information online.
