PM Shehbaz approves PECA amendment draft to regulate digital media

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the draft of the amendment in the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act (PECA) 2016, aiming to regulate digital and social media platforms, according to sources. 

The sources said that the government is deliberating on forming a body for setting and implementing some rules on independently running social media.

It seems that the regulations are part of preventive efforts from the government to keep an eye on social media posting that harms the interest of the state and institutions and also to curb irregular activities such as propaganda campaigns after the May 9 riots, closure of X (formally Twitter), the campaign against Judiciary and others.

However, government officials said that the bill would protect the privacy of social media users against the risk of cybercrime activities, and "the bill has no link with institutions".

According to the draft, the stalwarts of the government recommended forming a Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA) to eye on social media content, and it would have the right to take action against violators. 

The proposed authority will work under the supervision of the Ministry of Information Technology. 

The authority, which would be responsible for assuring safe use of the internet in accordance with rules, will present its recommendation about digital rights to the government.

The proposed authority will regulate online content and take measures against outlaws of social media after investigating the violation of rules. 

The authority will have the right to summon the miscreant and witness of any irregular activity if it is being made. 

Last week, the IT ministry issued a statuary regulatory order to form the National Cybercrime Investigation Authority.