The National Assembly of Pakistan has passed the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2025, aimed at regulating social media and online content. The bill's approval has sparked widespread criticism from journalists, opposition parties, and digital rights activists.
According to the bill, a new authority, the Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA), will be established to oversee online content, protect users' digital rights, and promote digital literacy. The DRPA will have the power to remove online content, block access to prohibited material, and take action against individuals sharing such content.
The bill also introduces stricter penalties for spreading false information online, including a three-year prison sentence and a fine of Rs2 million. A Social Media Protection Tribunal will be set up to hear cases related to online content, with a requirement o dispose of cases within 90 days.
Opposition parties and journalists have condemned the bill, arguing that it will restrict freedom of expression, give excessive powers to authorities to censor online content, and suppress media and social media. The passage of the bill has raised concerns about the implications for online freedom and the future of digital rights in Pakistan.
