In a significant move to curb the spread of fake news and ensure safer social media use, the Pakistani government is making stricter changes to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. These changes are part of the PECA Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, which aims to tackle the growing issue of misinformation online and regulate social media platforms more effectively.
The proposed changes have already been drafted and approved by the Law Ministry. They were presented to the National Assembly by the Federal Law Minister, Azam Nazir Tarar. These amendments will introduce several new rules and set up a dedicated authority to handle social media-related matters. This authority, named the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, will be based in Islamabad and have offices in other major cities across Pakistan.
The main goal of this new authority is to ensure that social media platforms follow the law and protect the rights of users. It will also be responsible for overseeing the registration of social media platforms operating in Pakistan. If these platforms do not follow the rules, the authority will have the power to cancel their registrations, set guidelines for acceptable content, and take action against those that break the rules. This includes removing illegal content from social media and even blocking harmful material immediately.
A key feature of this amendment is the appointment of a chairman to lead the authority. The chairman will need to have at least a bachelor’s degree and 15 years of experience in a relevant field. Along with five other members, the chairman will serve a five-year term and will not be allowed to engage in any other business during their tenure. This ensures that they can fully focus on regulating social media and tackling fake news.
The proposed law also aims to prevent content that goes against Pakistan’s ideology or encourages unlawful behavior. It will focus on blocking illegal content that targets important institutions, like the armed forces, the parliament, or provincial assemblies. The bill will also create a Social Media Complaints Council, which will include five members and one ex-officio member, to handle complaints about social media platforms that do not comply with the authority’s directives. If platforms refuse to follow the rules, the authority can take them to a tribunal for further action.
A major part of the bill is the creation of a Social Media Protection Tribunal, which will be set up by the federal government. This tribunal will be chaired by a former High Court judge and will also include a journalist and a software engineer. Decisions made by the tribunal can be challenged in Pakistan’s Supreme Court within 60 days.
To further strengthen the law, the bill includes severe penalties for those who spread fake news. Offenders could face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 2 million rupees. Additionally, a new National Cybercrime Investigation Agency will be established to handle investigations related to illegal online activities. The agency will be led by a Director General who will be appointed for a three-year term.
The new investigative agency will take over the work of the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing, which will be dissolved. Officers and staff in the new agency will have powers similar to those of police officers, which will help them take strong action against online crimes.
These amendments are being introduced to create a safer and more regulated digital environment in Pakistan. The government aims to hold people accountable for spreading harmful or false information and ensure that social media platforms respect the laws and values of the country. With these changes, Pakistan hopes to take a major step towards improving the online space and tackling fake news effectively.
By strengthening the PECA law, the government is not only aiming to protect citizens but also to create a more trustworthy online experience for everyone in the country.
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