In a concerning move, the Pakistan government amended its cybercrimes act, placing internet freedom and free expression in jeopardy. Human Rights Watch calls for the immediate repeal or significant reform of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025. The legislation, effective from January 29, 2025, criminalizes the distribution of so-called “fake or false” information, imposing up to three years of imprisonment without a clear definition of what constitutes such information. Vague descriptors like content that causes “fear, panic, disorder, or unrest” expand the law’s reach, undermining basic rights.
The amendment significantly augments state power, introducing four new government bodies tasked with regulating online content and broadening the scope of “online harm.” These state entities can block or remove content based on indistinct standards that violate proportionality and necessity as per international law. Notably, the Social Media Protection Tribunal lacks independent judicial oversight, raising alarms about governmental overreach into digital speech.
One such new body, the Social Media Protection and Regulation Authority, can instruct social media platforms to remove or restrict content deemed contrary to Pakistan’s ideology or to label it “fake.” It mandates companies to register with it, potentially imposing arbitrary conditions on their operations. The parliamentary adoption of this amendment occurs against a backdrop of intensified crackdowns on digital expression in Pakistan, including frequent internet outages to quell protests and dissent.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan warns the law may target political activists, journalists, and human rights advocates, effectively punishing those who challenge state narratives. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has initiated widespread protests, decrying this amendment as a direct assault on civil liberties.
As a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Pakistan is tasked with ensuring that restrictions on freedom of expression are narrowly defined and justified. However, the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), enacted in 2016, has already been weaponized against numerous journalists who criticized the government, legitimizing fears that the new amendments will deepen existing violations of free speech. This digital policing will not safeguard against false information but will serve as a tool to silence dissent.
Human Rights Watch asserts that Pakistan’s amendment to its cybercrime law endangers internet freedom. The law, which criminalizes “fake or false” information, lacks clarity and could result in broad overreach against free expression. With new regulatory bodies created to control online content, the amendment faces backlash from journalists and human rights groups. Calls for repeal highlight the need to protect rights outlined in international law, especially regarding freedom of expression.
The Pakistan government’s recent amendments to the cybercrime law raise significant concerns over free expression and internet freedoms. Human Rights Watch and various organizations stress the importance of repealing these amendments, highlighting the vague definitions that threaten to silence dissent. Ultimately, these measures signal an alarming trend towards increased digital repression in Pakistan, impinging rights that should be protected under international law.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
