The Cybercrime Amendment Bill was cultivated by the government for the all-inclusive amendment of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, and this law will ensure the legality of the Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA).
The bill has now opened a new chapter in the accusation on the part of the government which prohibits any form of online content, blocks fake news, and has achieved total control over social media platforms and tools like virtual private networks (VPNs), a reliable source told.
False information creating fear or insecurity shall be punishable by imprisonment up to five years and a penalty of up to Rupees one million, as the sources suggest.
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The draft Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2024 expressly widens the definition of “social media platform” to include tools such as VPNs that are used to bypass bans on access. The DRPA will now take the charges under PECA previously under PTA and regulate online content through the removal of unlawful material as well as acceptance by social media platforms, including the establishment of their offices in Pakistan.
The draft proposes penalties for posting “fake news,” offenses under which would attract five years in prison and penalties of Rs 1 million. It further broadens the definition of illegal content to include such things as blasphemy, sectarian incitement, obscene acts, violations of copyright, and defamation and slander against state institutions.
An authority called the Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA) would consist of a chairperson and six members including government officials, one ex-officio member, and very importantly all powers to block online content in emergency cases.
There is usually a tribunal for the filing of appeals against the decisions of the DRPA.
These amendments are made to arrest the scourge of misinformation and strengthen digital governance, but at the same time, there are issues they raise about possible misuse and repression of freedoms in the online space.