KARACHI: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) is observing a ‘black day’ of protest today, Friday, against a new law aimed at regulating social media content that journalists and activists have widely described as an attack on freedom of expression.
The law, which amends the much-criticized Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) of 2016, establishes the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority to perform a range of functions related to social media, including being able to order the immediate blocking of unlawful content targeting judges, the armed forces, parliament or provincial assemblies or material that promotes and encourages terrorism and other forms of violence against the state or its institutions. The authority will have its own investigation agency and tribunals. Those found to have disseminated false or fake information face prison sentences of up to three years and fines of two million rupees ($7,200).
“In movement against PECA Act, PFUJ decides to observe Black Day tomorrow [Friday],” PFUJ said in a statement on Thursday. “On the appeal of PFUJ, black flags will be hoisted at press clubs and union offices across the country tomorrow. Rallies will also be taken out.”
The union said journalists would cover stories on Friday wearing black armbands, decrying that the upper and lower houses of parliament did not consult media stakeholders before passing the law.
“Despite the repeated appeal of the PFUJ Joint Action Committee, the president also signed the bill without giving an opportunity to meet, which is regrettable,” PFUJ President Afzal Butt was quoted as saying.
“A nationwide campaign will be launched to mobilize journalists, lawyers, human rights activists, and civil society … A call for a sit-in in front of Parliament House for the repeal of this black law will be given.”
The operative part of the new bill outlines that the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority would have the power to issue directions to a social media platform for the removal or blocking of online content if it was against the ideology of Pakistan, incited the public to violate the law or take the law in own hands with a view to coerce, intimidate or terrorize the public, individuals, groups, communities, government officials and institutions, incited the public to cause damage to governmental or private property or coerced or intimidated the public and thereby prevented them from carrying on their lawful trade and disrupted civic life.
The authority will also crackdown on anyone inciting hatred and contempt on a religious, sectarian or ethnic basis as well as against obscene or pornographic content and deep fakes.
Rights activists say the new bill is part of a widespread digital crackdown that includes a ban on X since February last year, restrictions on VPN use and the implementation of a national firewall.
The government denies the measures are aimed at censorship.
