By Shazia Anwer Cheema
Throughout the world, laws exist to control defamation, false narrative building against the state, and digital terrorism; however, regrettably, in Pakistan, any attempt of the state to control the menace of digital vandalism is always rejected by media rights organizations that have miserably botched to execute self-accountability and failed to snub those who had been minting money through yellow journalism that is unchecked by the media-rights organizations.
In a recent television show, my question about the self-accountability of those who use yellow journalism as their bread and butter was left unanswered by an honorable participant who was representing media-right organizations. This triggers me to pen what Pakistan is facing today and what we are not doing to protect the country.
I also read the statement released by the joint action committee, comprising the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AMEND), and the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), rejecting the recent amendments in PECA Act and this committee demanded immediate withdrawal of amendments. It may be remembered that the Government of Pakistan has amended the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (PECA) in an attempt to protect the country and society from the unchecked flow of fabricated content that is already available not only in social media but in mainstream media outlets.
COAS General Syed Asim Munir rightfully indicated that without comprehensive laws and regulations, false and misleading information and hate speech will continue to destabilize the political and social structure of Pakistan
Under the new clause 1A of the PECA Act Amendment Bill, the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority will be established. The outcry over this clause is unjustified because social media is working under the same law in all countries of the world. According to the amendment bill, the authority will consist of 9 members, including the Home Secretary, Chairman PTA, Chairman PEMRA, and ex-officio members of the authority. In addition, journalists, software engineers, lawyers, and IT experts will also be included in the Protection and Regulatory Authority.
Under the amendment bill, this authority will ensure the protection and rights of social media users, the authority will be authorized to register social media platforms, the authority will be authorized to cancel the registration of social media platforms, determine standards, and the authority will be authorized to take disciplinary action against social media platforms. What is the problem with it when you are not spreading fake information?
According to the amendment bill, fake news can be punished with 3 years of imprisonment and a fine of 2 million rupees or both. The definition of illegal content will include content that is anti-Islamic, against national security or defense, and fake or false reports. The definition of illegal content will also include public order, indecency, contempt of court, immoral content, and illegal content will also include incitement to commit a crime.
Regrettably, journalists, and human rights organizations always reject any attempt to fix laws according to emerging requirements. It should be noted that even in the Western world where human rights enjoy top priority, the foremost priority is the country
If we examine the bill in detail, it is clear that the purpose of this bill is to take legal action against those who spread fake news and rumors. The strictest suggestions made in it regarding punishments are intended to target only those who deliberately spread lies, not those who unintentionally spread false information.
Moreover, the PECA Act Amendment Bill has given the government strong oversight powers to prevent irresponsible use of social media. Given the growing cyber threats on social media, the government has decided to establish an institution that will regulate and monitor the use of social media so that illegal activities on social media, such as terrorism, hate content, and false propaganda, can be remedied promptly.
Another important aspect that has been included in this bill is the responsibility of social media platforms. Under the PECA Act Amendment Bill, social media companies have also been given the responsibility to immediately remove false information and illegal content spread on their platforms. The bill also states that the government will have the power to take action against social media companies if they fail to prevent the spread of false information on their platforms. This step is undoubtedly indispensable and the need of the hour against national security and fake news.
It is an unchallenged fact that the inventions of social media and technology have brought some serious challenges and the biggest problem among these challenges is the spread of fake news, rumors, and misinformation, which not only creates distrust at the public level but can also pose a threat to national security at the state level. Nowadays, social media has become a platform where attempts are being made to influence public opinion through false and misleading content.
The politically motivated digital terrorism had been unchecked in Pakistan and the nation saw the consequences in the form of November 26, 2024, and May 9, 2023 events that were the ultimate results of unchecked peddling of blatant lies, fake news, and propaganda
On November 15, 2024, while addressing Margalla Dialogue 2024 held in Islamabad, Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir rightfully indicated that without comprehensive laws and regulations, false and misleading information and hate speech will continue to destabilize the political and social structure of Pakistan.
The instant spread of false and misleading information, the increasing influence of non-state actors through the usage of social media (remember ISIS Jihadi recruitment campaigns), the targeting of state institutions, and hatemongering against them are some of the major challenges developing democracies are facing. Without strict rules and regulations, freedom of expression is leading to the decline of moral values in all societies, and Pakistan which is fighting desperately to control rising terrorism desperately needs strict laws to mitigate digital terrorism. Why should Pakistan not protect itself by using all possible gadgets including digital data, and audio transmission surveillance (even done by the US Home Security Department) by using Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence?
Regrettably, some politicians, journalists, and human rights organizations always reject any attempt to fix laws according to emerging requirements. It should be noted that even in the Western world where human rights enjoy top priority, the foremost priority is the country. I strongly believe that the May 9 vandalism was directly connected with Digital Terrorism. In this kind of terrorism, a narrative is being launched that state institutions are against the public so the public should attack state institutions. The politically motivated digital terrorism had been unchecked in Pakistan and the nation saw the consequences in the form of November 26, 2024, and May 9, 2023 events that were the ultimate results of unchecked peddling of blatant lies, fake news, and propaganda.
My simple question to the media and human rights organizations of Pakistan is; can we run a state like this where foreign-funded groups are free to attack state institutions (through hatemongering campaigns)? My next question is; are we ready to see Pakistan like Iraq, Syria, Haiti, Afghanistan, or Libya where hatred was injected against state institutions before dismantling them? If we can not afford this, we must think beyond group psychology as a nation instead of as media-right or human rights organizations.
Shazia Anwer Cheema is an author, and analyst and writes articles for national and international media outlets. She did her M.Phil in Cognitive Semiotics from Aarhus University Denmark and is completing her Ph.D. in Semiotics and Philosophy of Communication at Charles University Prague.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article/Opinion/Comment are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the DND Thought Center and Dispatch News Desk (DND). Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of the DND Thought Center and Dispatch News Desk News.
