ISLAMABAD: The government has introduced new social media rules to make digital networks block and remove ‘unlawful online content’ or face shutdown in case of non-compliance, making digital rights activists claim that the “draconian” measure has been taken to curb online dissent and freedom of expression.
Under the new rules, social media companies will be bound to remove any ‘unlawful content’ from their websites within twenty-four hours after being reported by a government authority.
“Provided that in case of emergency, the social media company shall act within six hours to remove, suspend or disable access to such online content,” the 12-page document reads.
“The government has enforced these rules without following any democratic process which is very worrisome for all law-abiding citizens,” Usama Khilji, director of the Pakistan digital rights group, Bolo Bhi, told Arab News.
He added that the government notified the “Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules, 2020” this week under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, and Pakistan Telecommunication Act, 1996, without debating them in the parliament or taking public input from civil society activists, Internet freedom campaigners and legal experts.
“The government must de-notify these draconian rules immediately as they are against our democratic values and basic fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution,” Khilji said.
However, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, Federal Secretary at the Ministry of Information Technology, said that “these rules were notified and enforced with the approval of the federal cabinet.” He refused to give any further details.
Islamabad has been struggling to regulate the online content to block and remove blasphemous content, fake news, propaganda against the country’s national security institutions, including the army, and other material that violates cultural and ethnic sensitivities of the country.
So far, the authorities have largely remained unable to get full compliance with their complaints in the absence of local rules that regulate social networking platforms.
Social media companies required to follow these rules to operate in Pakistan include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Dailymotion. The regulations will also be applicable to voice or video calling applications, such as WhatsApp, Skype, Telegram, Viber and WeChat.
These companies are required to register with the government and establish a permanent office in Pakistan with a physical address within three months of the enforcement of these rules.
Social networking platforms are also required to “remove, suspend or disable access to such account, online content of citizens of Pakistan residing outside its territorial boundaries and posts on online content that are involved in spreading of fake news … [and violating] national security sensitivities of Pakistan.”
In case a social media company fails to abide by the provision of these rules, it can either be shut down or face a penalty up to 500 million rupees ($3.24 million) or both, as per the rules.
“Pakistan is not a lucrative market for social media companies, and they will strongly resist the excessively harsh rules,” Nighat Dad, executive director of the Digital Rights Foundation, told Arab News.
The new social media rules will only bring a bad name to Pakistan in the international community where nations are striving for maximum Internet freedom, she said.
“The government should move to increase public access to the Internet and social media platforms instead of curbing it,” Dad added.