ISLAMABAD: The government has moved to tighten control over online platforms by introducing an amendment to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, ending the legal immunity internet companies currently enjoy if they fail to block harmful content.
The Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2025, tabled in the Senate by PML-N Senator Anusha Rehman, proposes that service providers including internet, mobile, web, and data storage firms must remove or block objectionable material when ordered by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) or other authorities.
Under the new plan, Section 38 of PECA will be revised, stripping away protections that shield companies from direct legal action. Both firms and their responsible officers could face penalties if they ignore official instructions to restrict content deemed illegal, harmful, or offensive.
Officials argue the amendment is a critical step toward making Pakistan’s digital space safer by holding tech platforms accountable and curbing the spread of objectionable material. The government maintains that the measure will not only compel companies to act swiftly but also discourage users from uploading harmful content.
If passed, the bill would mark one of the toughest moves yet to regulate social media and online service providers in Pakistan.
