How will PECA Amendment Act 2025 affect social media users?

Both Houses of Parliament i.e., the National Assembly and the Senate have passed the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 also known as the PECA Amendment Act 2025 and now after the signature of President Asif Ali Zardari, it will formally become law.

The aim behind the act is to control false news, fake news, hate speech, misinformation, illegal content, content deemed against Islam, the security or defense of Pakistan, public order, and content critical of constitutional institutions such as the judiciary and armed forces and content that incites violence. Besides electronic media, the act is also implemented on social media and it will significantly impact social media users. Under this act, a Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority will be established to monitor social media content.

Any person will be able to approach the Authority and register a complaint against fake or harmful information. The authority is mandated to respond to such complaints within 24 hours. The authority can order the removal or blocking of content deemed unlawful. This could lead to increased censorship, affecting users’ freedom of expression and access to information. A tribunal will be established to handle disputes and appeals related to decisions made by the authority. This provides a legal avenue for users to contest actions taken against them or content they posted

Registration: 

Under the new law, social media platforms will be required to register with the regulatory authority and comply with its regulations.

What platforms are included in social media?

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, messaging apps, web platforms, and any other communication channel that allows you to create an account and communicate with others while generating content will come under the law.

Penalties and Punishment:

Posting any fake and false content on social media to harm someone’s reputation can lead to up to three years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 2 million. This will be enforced by a new investigation agency called the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), however until this new agency is established, the cybercrime wing under the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will implement the amendments.

Right to appeal:

If your content is removed or blocked by the authority, you have the right to appeal to a tribunal. If you are dissatisfied with the tribunal’s decision, your only recourse is to appeal to the Supreme Court.