Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has agreed to update a law from 2016 called the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). This update is meant to help manage social media with new rules according to Geo News.
The update known as the PECA Amendment Bill 2024 plans to create a new group called the Digital Rights Protection Authority. This bill will go to Parliament for discussion once the government approves it.
The idea to form the Digital Rights Protection Authority came from the government’s Legal Reforms Committee. This group would be part of the Ministry of Information Technology. It would help the government oversee digital rights and ensure that the internet is used responsibly.
This authority aims to work with social media companies to create a positive online environment. It will also monitor online content, investigate any misuse according to the new PECA rules and act against those who violate them.
Furthermore this authority will have the power to request information from people and witnesses. It will set up rules to support digital rights laws and strive to create a safe and reliable online space that protects users and their fundamental rights.
Officials have stated that this bill is designed to protect the privacy of citizens from the risks associated with social media. They clarified that it has nothing to do with controlling any specific institutions.
Recently, the Ministry of IT also established the National Cyber Crime Investigation Authority to support these objectives.
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