The federal government is set to introduce stricter amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 through the PECA Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, aimed at combating fake news and curbing the misuse of social media platforms.
The Law Ministry has drafted and approved the amendments, which were presented in the National Assembly today by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar.
A significant aspect of the amendment is the introduction of clause 1A, which establishes the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority. Headquartered in Islamabad, the authority will also have offices in provincial capitals. Its primary responsibilities include facilitating social media platforms, protecting user rights, and overseeing platform registration.
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The authority will hold the power to cancel registrations, enforce standards, and take disciplinary actions against platforms violating the PECA Act. It can direct institutions to remove illegal content and authorize its chairman to block unlawful material immediately.
The chairman of the authority will be appointed based on qualifications, requiring a bachelor’s degree and at least 15 years of relevant experience. Alongside five members, the chairman will serve a five-year term. These officials are prohibited from engaging in other business activities.
All social media platforms will be mandated to register with the authority, which will also have the power to block content deemed contrary to Pakistan’s ideology, or content inciting lawbreaking, targeting armed forces, parliament, or provincial assemblies. A Social Media Complaints Council, comprising five members and one ex-officio member, will be formed. Non-compliance by platforms will lead the authority to seek action from a tribunal.
The amendment also proposes the creation of a Social Media Protection Tribunal. This tribunal will consist of a former High Court judge, a journalist, and a software engineer, with decisions subject to appeal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan within 60 days.
Stringent penalties for spreading fake news include imprisonment for up to three years or fines up to 2 million rupees. To enhance investigation efforts, the government will establish a National Cybercrime Investigation Agency headed by a Director General with a three-year term.
Officers of the authority will have police-equivalent powers. The new agency’s establishment will lead to the dissolution of the FIA’s Cybercrime Wing, transferring all related investigations to the new body. Oversight of the Act will shift to the Ministry of Interior, previously managed by the Ministry of IT & Telecom. In the Interior Minister’s absence, the Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs will oversee the amendment’s proceedings.
