On Thursday, Pakistan’s lower house of parliament passed a contentious bill that grants the government broad powers over social media, including the ability to imprison users for spreading disinformation. The bill was quickly approved after lawmakers from the opposition party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan staged a walkout in protest against the legislation. Critics argue that the government is using the law to further restrict freedom of speech. Farhatullah Babar, a prominent human rights advocate, stated that the new changes to the cybercrime law were intended to “further stifle freedom of expression” by creating multiple authorities under executive control and expanding the reach of unaccountable intelligence agencies. He also pointed out that the law grants the executive sweeping powers over both the content and the platforms that spread it.
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, introduced in Pakistan’s National Assembly on Wednesday, would establish a new agency with the authority to immediately block content considered “unlawful and offensive” on social media. This includes content that criticizes judges, the military, parliament, or provincial assemblies. Individuals and organizations posting such content could also face bans from social media platforms. Under the new law, social media platforms must register with the newly established Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority. Platforms that fail to comply could face temporary or permanent bans. The law also criminalizes the spread of disinformation, with offenders facing up to three years in prison and a fine of 2 million rupees ($7,150).
Journalist unions and news editors strongly opposed the bill on Thursday. However, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar defended the law, stating that its purpose was to combat disinformation and hate speech. He assured reporters in Islamabad that he remained open to addressing journalists’ concerns and emphasized that the law was not intended to restrict electronic media or journalism.
The Pakistani government’s push to pass the bill comes nearly a year after the country blocked the X platform ahead of an election, which Khan’s opposition party claims was rigged. X remains blocked in Pakistan, although many people bypass the restriction using virtual private networks, similar to other nations with strict internet controls. Khan, who has a large following on social media, especially on X, is often supported by his followers who demand his release. He has been imprisoned since 2023 on corruption charges. His party also relies on social media to organize protests.
The opposition leader criticized the proposed law, arguing that it would further suppress free speech. Omar Ayub Khan, not related to the former prime minister, stated that the bill could pave the way for the repression of voices advocating for constitutional rights. On Thursday, the PTI announced it was ending talks with the government ahead of a January 28 deadline for discussions with Khan. This decision came weeks after Gohar Ali Khan, chairman of the PTI, had initiated talks with the government to secure Khan’s release and address other demands.
In recent years, Pakistani media has faced increasing censorship. Journalists have reported pressure from the state to avoid mentioning Imran Khan by name, with most TV stations now referring to him simply as the “founder of the PTI” party. Human rights activists and journalists’ unions have pledged to fight the law, but with the government holding a majority, its passage seems almost certain. Afzal Butt, president of the Federal Union of Journalists, criticized the law, calling it an effort to silence the media, social media, and journalists. The government argues that the law is necessary to curb the spread of disinformation.
