ISLAMABAD: HUM News obtained a copy of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act [PECA Act] 2025, which proposes to establish a Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA).
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The DRPA will have the power to remove online content. It will also have the power to access prohibited or obscene content. The authority will have the power to take action against those involved in sharing prohibited content.
DEFINITIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA, CRIMES EXPANDED
A new definition of ‘social media platform’ has also been included in the proposed amendment, which adds tools and software used to access social media. A new clause is proposed in Section 2 of the PECA Act for this purpose.
The proposed amendment includes multiple new definitions of terms defined in the law. ‘Any person operating a system that allows access to social media’ has also been included in the new definition. The definition also includes ‘website’, ‘application’ or ‘communication channel’.
The proposed amendment also expands the definition of illegal content. The current definition of ‘illegal online content’ in Section 37 of the PECA Act includes content that is anti-Islamic, against the security or defense of Pakistan.
The new definition of illegal content also includes public order, indecency, immoral content, contempt of court or incitement to commit an offence under this Act.
The proposed amendment to the PECA Act identifies 16 categories of illegal content, including blasphemous material, violent content, incitement to communal hatred, obscenity, copyright violations, promotion of crime or terrorism, fake or false reports, accusations against constitutional institutions or their officers (including the judiciary and armed forces), blackmail, and defamation.
STRUCTURE OF DRAP
The authority will consist of six other members including the chairperson.
The Information Secretary, IT Secretary and Chairman PTI will be members of the authority. Additionally, the federal government will appoint the chairperson and three members for a period of three years.
All decisions in the authority will be taken with the consent of the majority of members.
The chairperson will have the exclusive power to issue instructions to block any illegal online content. The Authority will have to ‘ratify’ the chairperson’s decision within 48 hours.
MANDATE AND AUTHORITY
Under the proposed amendment, the DRPA will make recommendations to the federal and provincial governments in ‘related areas including digital ethics’. The authority will encourage and facilitate education, research and social media platforms, and will ensure online safety of users.
The DRPA will have the authority to ‘regulate’ social media content. This means that the authority will be empowered to investigate complaints and ‘block’ or restrict access to content under the PECA Act. The DRPA will also determine the time frame for social media companies to implement its orders.
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The authority will facilitate [multinational] social media platforms to have offices or representatives in Pakistan.
The DRPA will also have the power to ‘register’ social media platforms for compliance with the rules and set conditions for them. It will have the power to order the government and social media companies to block or remove illegal online content as well.