Govt issues new rules to prevent immoral content on social media

ISLAMABAD: Federal Government of Pakistan has issued new rules to curb the immoral and hatred provoking content on social media.

On Thursday, the Ministry of information Technology and Telecommunication, provided a new notification for social media consumers. According to Minster Syed Aminul Haque, the rules to be implemented are under complete freedom of expression of Article 19. Whereas, social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Google and others will have to follow the latest regulations.

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However, the latest regulation include the complete ban on live streaming of extremist, terrorist, hatred, obscene and violent content. The content targeting the dignity and security of country will be considered as a criminal activity. All the social media companies will have to register to PTA with in the period of three months, Digital media offices will be given 48 hours instead of 24 to remove the content mentioned immoral, obscene or violent.

Furthermore, the social media companies and other service providers will have to devise community guidelines in order to inform users about uploading content. The Minister added that the social media departments will have to establish their office first in the premises of country instead of appointing an officer. The rules to prevent the above mentioned content have been framed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016.