ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday today, tabled amendments to the contentious Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (Peca) in the National Assembly.
The government has lowered the jail term to three years from seven years for “intentionally disseminating false and fake information”.
According to the draft of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, the proposed changes include new definitions, the establishment of regulatory and investigative bodies, and stricter penalties for disseminating “false” information.
The draft stated: “Whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system, that he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend upto three years or with fine which may extend to Rs2 million or with both.”
The draft also proposed the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority with extensive powers to block or remove online content deemed harmful to public safety or state interests.
Furthermore, it stated, any person “aggrieved by fake and false information” can approach the authority for removal or blocking access to such information and the authority would issue orders no later than 24 hours on the request.
According to the draft, the authority should consist of a chairperson and eight other members out of which the secretary Ministry of Interior, the Pemra chairman and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman or any member of PTA. “The Chairperson and five members, other than ex-officio members, shall be appointed by the federal government for a non-extendable period of live years,” it added.
The proposed changes also stated that the authority might require any social media platform to enlist with it any manner, form and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
It added that apart from the requirements of the act, additional conditions or requisites as deemed appropriate might also be stipulated while enlisting a social media platform.
The draft stated that the authority would have the power to issue directions to a social media platform for removal or blocking of online content if it was against the ideology of Pakistan.
The draft also proposed the establishment of Social Media Protection Tribunals. Each tribunal will be consisted of a chairperson qualified to be a high court judge, a journalist registered with a press club, and a software engineer.
Tribunals must resolve cases within 90 days, with appeals allowed to the Supreme Court within 60 days.
Meanwhile, the draft also proposed the establishment of an investigation agency to be called the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for inquiry into, investigation and prosecution of the offences specified under this Act.
