Pakistan Faces Backlash Over Social Media Law

Pakistan's National Assembly has passed amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), granting the government extensive powers to regulate social media, which has sparked significant backlash from journalists, rights activists, and opposition parties. The new law establishes bodies like the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, empowering them to remove 'unlawful' content and punish 'disinformation' with heavy fines and imprisonment. Critics, including the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, argue that the law undermines freedom of expression and was passed without stakeholder consultation, leading to plans for nationwide protests. The Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2024, also recently approved, has faced criticism for potentially facilitating government surveillance and stifling constitutional rights, with opposition leaders accusing the government of using the legislation to suppress dissent under the guise of digital governance. Despite government assurances that these laws aim to combat cybercrime and misinformation, the opposition and media bodies have vowed to challenge them legally and through protests. These legislative moves come amid heightened concerns about press freedom in Pakistan, already ranked low internationally for journalists' safety and freedom.