Latest news with #SocialMediaProtectionandRegulatoryAuthority
Express Tribune
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Sindh announces special unit to handle cases of social media misuse
Listen to article Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday announced the creation of a Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), as well as a new Centre for Excellence to counter violent extremism. The announcements were made during the 32nd apex committee meeting chaired by CM Murad at the Chief Minister's House. The high-level meeting was attended by provincial ministers, security officials, and representatives from key federal and provincial departments. The social media authority will be empowered to regulate unlawful or offensive content, enforce content standards, manage platform registration, and recommend full or partial blocking of platforms. It will also have the authority to direct concerned departments to remove harmful online content. 'This step is aimed at ensuring digital safety and protecting the rights of individuals on social media,' the chief minister stated. The provincial government also revealed plans to establish a Centre for Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism, which will focus on research, strategy, and policy development to combat extremism. The centre will support terror financing investigations for the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and help counter online radicalisation, hate speech, and youth delinquency. CM Murad instructed the home secretary to present the draft legislation for the centre at the next cabinet meeting. The chief minister also called for enhanced coordination with Punjab and Balochistan to conduct joint operations against bandits in the riverine areas. Discussing the repatriation of illegal foreign nationals, Shah said the provincial government had completed the first phase of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP), deporting over 85,000 undocumented individuals during 2023–24. Transit centres for repatriation were set up in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Jacobabad under the supervision of respective deputy commissioners. Expressing concern over the rising number of road accidents and recent arson incidents involving oil tankers and dumpers, CM Murad ordered law enforcement to strictly enforce traffic regulations and apprehend those responsible for sabotage.
Arab News
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistani journalists observe ‘black day' against new law to regulate social media
KARACHI: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) is observing a 'black day' of protest today, Friday, against a new law aimed at regulating social media content that journalists and activists have widely described as an attack on freedom of expression. The law, which amends the much-criticized Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) of 2016, establishes the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority to perform a range of functions related to social media, including being able to order the immediate blocking of unlawful content targeting judges, the armed forces, parliament or provincial assemblies or material that promotes and encourages terrorism and other forms of violence against the state or its institutions. The authority will have its own investigation agency and tribunals. Those found to have disseminated false or fake information face prison sentences of up to three years and fines of two million rupees ($7,200). 'In movement against PECA Act, PFUJ decides to observe Black Day tomorrow [Friday],' PFUJ said in a statement on Thursday. 'On the appeal of PFUJ, black flags will be hoisted at press clubs and union offices across the country tomorrow. Rallies will also be taken out.' The union said journalists would cover stories on Friday wearing black armbands, decrying that the upper and lower houses of parliament did not consult media stakeholders before passing the law. 'Despite the repeated appeal of the PFUJ Joint Action Committee, the president also signed the bill without giving an opportunity to meet, which is regrettable,' PFUJ President Afzal Butt was quoted as saying. 'A nationwide campaign will be launched to mobilize journalists, lawyers, human rights activists, and civil society … A call for a sit-in in front of Parliament House for the repeal of this black law will be given.' The operative part of the new bill outlines that the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority would have the power to issue directions to a social media platform for the removal or blocking of online content if it was against the ideology of Pakistan, incited the public to violate the law or take the law in own hands with a view to coerce, intimidate or terrorize the public, individuals, groups, communities, government officials and institutions, incited the public to cause damage to governmental or private property or coerced or intimidated the public and thereby prevented them from carrying on their lawful trade and disrupted civic life. The authority will also crackdown on anyone inciting hatred and contempt on a religious, sectarian or ethnic basis as well as against obscene or pornographic content and deep fakes. Rights activists say the new bill is part of a widespread digital crackdown that includes a ban on X since February last year, restrictions on VPN use and the implementation of a national firewall. The government denies the measures are aimed at censorship.
Arab News
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan president signs controversial cybercrime bill into law
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari signed into law on Wednesday a controversial cybercrime bill passed by both houses of parliament, state-run media reported, despite criticism from the country's opposition and prominent journalists who say it curtails their right to freedom of expression. The development took place a day after Pakistan's upper house of parliament followed the National Assembly by passing The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Amendment Bill, 2025, amid protests by opposition leaders and journalists who fear the new legislation will be used to censor social media platforms. After both houses passed the bill, it needed the president's assent to become law. Pakistan adopted the much-criticized Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in 2016, granting sweeping powers to regulators to block private information they deemed illegal. The law provided for up to seven years in prison for 'recruiting, funding and planning of terrorism' online. It also allowed 'authorized officers' to require anyone to unlock any computer, mobile phone or other device during an investigation. The government said at the time restrictions under the new law were needed to ensure security against growing threats such as terrorism and to crack down on unauthorized access, electronic fraud and online harassment. The new amendment bill now proposes the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority to perform a range of functions related to social media, including awareness, training, regulation, enlistment and blocking. SMPRA would be able to order the immediate blocking of unlawful content targeting judges, the armed forces, parliament or provincial assemblies or material which promotes and encourages terrorism and other forms of violence against the state or its institutions. The law also makes spreading disinformation a criminal offense punishable by three years in prison and a fine of two million rupees ($7,150). 'President Asif Ali Zardari has assented The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Amendment Bill, 2025, The Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, 2025 and The National Commission on the Status of Women (Amendment) Bill 2025,' state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. The main opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, called the law 'draconian' on Tuesday, saying it would be used to suppress media freedom. 'We will challenge this and we will keep resisting till this black law is taken back,' the party said in a statement released to media. A copy of the bill seen by Arab News has set imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of Rs2 million or both for 'whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system, that he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society.' Information Minister Ataullah Tarar told reporters last week that the bill will protect journalists and not harm them. 'This is the first time the government has defined what social media is,' Tarar said. 'There is already a system in place for print and electronic media and complaints can be registered against them.' He said 'working journalists' should not feel threatened by the bill, which had to be passed because the Federal Investigation Agency, previously responsible for handling cybercrime, 'does not have the capacity to handle child pornography or AI deep fake cases.' Tarar said the government was also aiming to bring social media journalists, including those operating YouTube accounts, under the tax framework. The operative part of the new bill outlines that the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority would have the power to issue directions to a social media platform for the removal or blocking of online content if it was against the ideology of Pakistan, incited the public to violate the law or take the law in own hands with a view to coerce, intimidate or terrorize the public, individuals, groups, communities, government officials and institutions, incited the public to cause damage to governmental or private property or coerced or intimidated the public and thereby prevented them from carrying on their lawful trade and disrupted civic life. The authority will also crack down on anyone inciting hatred and contempt on a religious, sectarian or ethnic basis as well as against obscene or pornographic content and deep fakes. Rights activists say the new bill is part of a widespread digital crackdown that includes a ban on X since February last year, restrictions on VPN use and the implementation of a national firewall. The government says the measures are not aimed at censorship.
Arab News
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
‘Draconian law,' says opposition party as Pakistan senate approves controversial cybercrime bill
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's upper house of parliament on Tuesday passed a bill to amend the country's cybercrime law amid a walkout by opposition leaders and journalists who fear the new legislation will be used to censor social media platforms. Pakistan adopted the much-criticized Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in 2016, granting sweeping powers to regulators to block private information they deemed illegal. The law provided for up to seven years in prison for 'recruiting, funding and planning of terrorism' online. It also allowed 'authorized officers' to require anyone to unlock any computer, mobile phone or other device during an investigation. The government said at the time restrictions under the new law were needed to ensure security against growing threats such as terrorism and to crackdown on unauthorized access, electronic fraud and online harassment. However, journalists and rights activists complain that the law has been largely used to go after journalists, bloggers and other people critical of the government and state institutions like the military. The new amendment bill now proposes the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority to perform a range of functions related to social media, including awareness, training, regulation, enlistment and blocking. SMPRA would be able to order the immediate blocking of unlawful content targeting judges, the armed forces, parliament or provincial assemblies or material which promotes and encourages terrorism and other forms of violence against the state or its institutions. The law also makes spreading disinformation a criminal offense punishable by three years in prison and a fine of two million rupees ($7,150). After being passed by both houses of parliament, the bill now needs the president's ascent to become law. 'I have heard more 'yes' than 'no', so the bill is approved,' Syedaal Khan, deputy chair of Pakistan's Senate, said amid protests from the opposition and journalists who walked out of the gallery. The main opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, called the law 'draconian,' saying it would be used to suppress media freedom. 'Second battle will be a constitutional battle in the courts and for that the [party] leadership is consulting lawyers,' the PTI said in a statement shared with reporters. 'We will challenge this and we will keep resisting till this black law is taken back.' A copy of the bill seen by Arab News has set imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of Rs2 million or both for 'whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system, that he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society.' The bill was presented in the National Assembly on Thursday by Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party of premier Shehbaz Sharif. 'The bill will not harm but protect working journalists,' Information Minister Ataullah Tarar told reporters after the passage of the bill by the lower house of parliament last week. 'This is the first time the government has defined what social media is. There is already a system in place for print and electronic media and complaints can be registered against them.' He said 'working journalists' should not feel threatened by the bill, which had to be passed because the Federal Investigation Agency, previously responsible for handling cybercrime, 'does not have the capacity to handle child pornography or AI deep fake cases.' Tarar said the government was also aiming to bring social media journalists, including those operating YouTube accounts, under the tax framework. The operative part of the new bill outlines that the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority would have the power to issue directions to a social media platform for the removal or blocking of online content if it was against the ideology of Pakistan, incited the public to violate the law or take the law in own hands with a view to coerce, intimidate or terrorize the public, individuals, groups, communities, government officials and institutions, incited the public to cause damage to governmental or private property or coerced or intimidated the public and thereby prevented them from carrying on their lawful trade and disrupted civic life. The authority will also crackdown on anyone inciting hatred and contempt on a religious, sectarian or ethnic basis as well as against obscene or pornographic content and deep fakes. Rights activists say the new bill is part of a widespread digital crackdown that includes a ban on X since February last year, restrictions on VPN use and the implementation of a national firewall. The government says the measures are not aimed at censorship.
