Pakistani Government Approves Additional Social Media Restrictions

The Pakistani government demands that Facebook, Twitter, Google, and other social media companies remove “unlawful” content within 24 hours.  (Pixabay)

The Pakistani government approved a series of regulations fining or even banning social media platforms over user-created content. The regulations, known collectively as the Citizens Protection Against Online Rules, were approved on January 28 but only recently made known to the public through an online leak.

The new regulations require social media companies to establish representative offices in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, within three months and to choose a point person who will work with the government to regulate social media content. The regulation also requires social media companies to set up servers within the country’s borders in less than a year and to openly provide the government with access to any accounts flagged as dissidents or threats to national security.

Social media companies are now also responsible for blocking live streaming of any user content that is “related to terrorism, extremism, hate speech, defamation, fake news, incitement to violence, and national security.”

Noncompliance enables Pakistani officials to block services and impose fines of up to 500 million rupees ($3.24 million). 

The new ban reflects growing sentiment against the government and aims to address heated criticisms of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Pakistan’s military. Ever since Khan took office in 2018, the lack of economic improvement, increased tensions with India, and support of Pakistan’s politically influential military establishment has incited protests and criticisms from citizens and opposing political parties alike. 

Previously, Khan’s response had been to censor Pakistan's news agencies and press, even disrupting TV interviews with opposition political leaders. This restriction on mainstream news led both journalists and Pakistan's increasingly educated masses to use social media platforms to voice their opinions and critiques. In a country where 73 percent of the population are internet users, the latest restrictions will likely have far-reaching consequences. 

Pakistan ranked 142 out of 180 countries on Reporters Without Borders’ 2019 Press Freedom Index. 

Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqi, one of the authors of the new regulations, said the restrictions are a response to the growing need “to uphold the integrity, decency, and respect of individuals and sanctity of institutions.” Firdous Ashsiq Awan, one of the the prime minister’s special assistants, said the new regulations were for citizen protection and national security.

The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists demanded an immediate rollback of the new regulations, which were passed without properly informing Pakistani citizens. The Digital Rights Foundation also labelled the restrictions as a “blatant violation” of freedom of speech and digital information.