Pakistani government proposes sweeping controls on social media

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's opposition said Thursday the government is seeking to further suppress freedom of expression, a day after proposing drastic controls on social media that could include blocking platforms and sending users to prison for spreading disinformation.

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, presented to the National Assembly on Wednesday by Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, would create an agency with the power to order the blocking of illegal and offensive content from social media and ban the access of individuals and organizations to social media.

Social media platforms would be required to register with the new Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, and those that fail to comply with the law could face temporary or permanent bans.

The law also makes spreading disinformation a criminal offense, punishable by three years in prison and a fine of 2 million rupees ($7,150).

The move comes almost a year after Pakistan blocked the X platform ahead of an election that jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's opposition party says was rigged. X is still blocked in the country, even though many people use virtual private networks to access it, as in other countries where the Internet is strictly controlled.

Khan has a large following on social media, particularly on X, where his supporters frequently call for his release. Khan has been behind bars since 2023, when he was arrested on corruption charges. Khan's party also uses social media to organize protests.

The opposition leader denounced the bill, saying it aimed to further suppress freedom of expression. Omar Ayub Khan, who is not related to the jailed former prime minister, said the bill could lay the groundwork for suppressing voices defending constitutional rights.

The new agency could order the immediate blocking of illegal content targeting judges, the armed forces, parliament or provincial assemblies. The law also prohibits downloading parliamentary remarks that have been removed from the record.

Pakistani media have faced increasing censorship in recent years. Journalists said they were under state pressure to avoid using Imran Khan's name, and most TV channels began referring to him only as the founder of the PTI party.

Human rights defenders and journalists' unions have pledged to oppose the law, but with the government in the majority, its passage is all but assured.

Afzal Butt, president of the Federal Union of Journalists, said the law was an attempt to suppress media, social media and journalists.

The government says the law is necessary to limit the spread of misinformation.

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