The National Assembly has approved a contentious amendment to the country’s cybercrime legislation known as the “Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025,” despite opposition protests and a walkout by journalists.
Introduced by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, the bill aims to establish an agency responsible for blocking “unlawful and offensive content” on social media platforms, which would be required to register with a new Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority. Failure to comply could result in temporary or permanent bans.
The law criminalizes the dissemination of disinformation, imposing penalties that include up to three years in prison and fines reaching 2 million rupees (approximately $7,150). The newly formed agency would have the power to swiftly remove illegal content targeting judges, military personnel, parliament, or provincial assemblies. Additionally, it prohibits sharing statements from parliament that have been removed from official records.
Opponents argue that this legislation represents an attempt by the government to stifle free speech further following previous social media restrictions that could lead to platform shutdowns and imprisonment for those spreading false information.
