Pakistan's parliament passes bill with sweeping controls on social media, sparks concern over free speech

Unions representing journalists and news editors rejected the bill on Thursday.

Pakistan’s lower house of parliament passed a controversial bill on Thursday that will give the government sweeping control over social media, including sending users to prison for spreading disinformation, reported news agency AP. The bill was quickly passed after lawmakers from the opposition party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan staged a walkout to denounce the law.

As per the critics, the government is looking for ways to further suppress the freedom of speech of the people of Pakistan. "The latest changes to cybercrime law were aimed at “further stifling the freedom of expression through setting up of multiple authorities under executive control, enlarging the print of unaccountable intelligence agencies,” the news agency quoted Farhatullah Babar, a leading human rights activist, as saying.

He further said that the law also "gives sweeping powers to the executive not only over the contents of the message but also the messengers, namely the social media platforms”

Under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, which was introduced in the National Assembly on Wednesday, authorities would create an agency with the power to order the immediate blocking of content deemed “unlawful and offensive" from social media, such as content critical of judges, the armed forces, parliament or provincial assemblies. Individuals and organizations posting such content may also be blocked from social media.

Under this law, social media platforms must register with the new Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, and those failing to comply could face temporary or permanent bans. The law also makes spreading disinformation a criminal offence, punishable by three years in prison and a fine of 2 million rupees ($7,150).

Unions representing journalists and news editors rejected the bill on Thursday.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar defended the law, saying it was only aimed at stopping the spread of disinformation and hate speech. He assured the reporters in Islamabad that he was ready to address the concerns of the journalists and that the law was not meant to impose curbs on the electronic media and journalists.

This move by the Pakistan government to pass the bill comes nearly a year after it blocked X, formerly Twitter, ahead of an election that the opposition party of Khan says was rigged. X is still blocked in the country, although many people use virtual private networks (VPN) to access it, like in other countries with tight internet controls.

Khan has a huge following on social media, especially X, where supporters frequently circulate demands for his release. Khan has been behind bars since 2023 when he was arrested for graft. Khan's party also uses social media to organize demonstrations.

The leader of the opposition denounced the proposed legislation, saying it was aimed at further suppressing freedom of speech. Omar Ayub Khan said the bill could “lay a foundation for the suppression of voices advocating for constitutional rights”.

On Thursday, the PTI said it was ending talks with the government ahead of a January 28 deadline to meet with Khan. The announcement by Gohar Ali Khan, chairman of the PTI party, came weeks after he began talks with the government to secure the release of the former prime minister and discuss other demands.

In recent years, Pakistan media has faced growing censorship in recent years. Journalists have claimed that they face state pressure to avoid using Imran Khan's name, and most TV stations have begun referring to him only as the “founder of the PTI" party.

Human rights defenders and journalists unions have vowed to oppose the law, but with the government holding a majority, its passage is all but assured.

Afzal Butt, president of the Federal Union of Journalists, said the law was an attempt to suppress the media, social media and journalists.

The government says the law is necessary to limit the spread of disinformation.