ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s state minister for information technology, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has confirmed the Pakistani government is reviewing amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) to curb “fake news” and “online misinformation,” the Senate Secretariat said on Thursday.

This is the first time that an official has confirmed changes to the cybercrime law since reports emerged this month that the government was planning to introduce changes to PECA that would see the formation of a new authority with powers to block online content and access to social media as well as prosecuting those propagating “fake news.” The amendments propose up to five-year imprisonment or fine extending to Rs1 million ($3,600) or both for anyone who “intentionally” posts false information online to create “a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest.”

Passed in 2016 by the then government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, the law was originally enacted to combat various forms of cybercrime, including cyber terrorism, unauthorized access, electronic fraud and online harassment, but it has variously been used to crackdown on journalists, bloggers and other critics of the state.

On Thursday, the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication held a meeting, at which committee chairperson, Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, expressed concerns over persistent Internet disruptions in the South Asian country. The meeting was attended by key stakeholders from the IT and telecom sectors.

“Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima, who also briefed the Committee, reassured members that the government was actively addressing the issues surrounding IT infrastructure,” the Senate Secretariat said.

“She confirmed that amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PICA) were under review to address concerns related to fake news and online misinformation, but clarified that these measures were not intended to restrict the Internet itself.”

The development comes as millions of Pakistanis continue to face a mysterious months-long Internet slowdown that has drawn backlash from activists and business leaders. The Pakistani government has previously blamed a surge in the use of VPNs and damaged underwater cables for the slowdown, whilst also admitting that the country was “undergoing a transition.”

Hafeez-ur-Rehman, chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) that regulates Internet in the country, said there was no government policy to intentionally slow down Internet services.

“While the Internet may experience delays due to issues related to the proposed licensing of Private Network (PN) services, there is no intention from the government to hinder overall Internet performance,” Rehman was quoted as saying by the Senate Secretariat.

“The PTA plans to introduce the licensing process for VPN services starting January 1, 2025, which officials believe will streamline network management.”