New Peca amendments propose three-year jail term, Rs2m fine for ‘disseminating fake news’

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ISLAMABAD: The federal government has proposed amendments to the country’s cybercrime laws, in case of violation, the jail term has been reduced from seven years to three years, and the fine has been increased up to 2 million rupees.

According to the draft Electronic Crime Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2025, available with Geo News, the proposed changes include new definitions, establishment of regulatory and investigative bodies, and tougher penalties for spreading “false” information.

Last month, it was reported that the government is planning changes to the country’s cybercrime laws, which include five years in jail or a fine of Rs 1 million for those found guilty of deliberately spreading fake news.

According to the previous draft, severe punishments could be imposed for spreading false information, spreading fear or disturbing the peace through online platforms. Later the imprisonment was increased to seven years while the fine was increased to Rs 20 lakh.

However, the latest draft states: “Whoever knowingly disseminates, publicly discloses, or transmits through any information system any information which he knows or believes to be is false or fake and is likely to cause fear, alarm or disturbance to the public or society shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to Rs.20 lakhs. or both punishments should be given will

The draft also proposes the creation of a Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority with broad powers to block or remove online content deemed harmful to public safety or state interests.

Further, it said, any person “concerned with fake and false information” can approach the authority to remove or block access to such information and the authority will issue orders within 24 hours on the request. .

According to the draft, the authority will include a chairperson and eight other members, among whom will be the secretary of the Ministry of Interior, the chairman of PEMRA and the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) or a member of the PTA. It added that “the Chairperson and five members, other than ex-officio members, shall be appointed by the Federal Government for a non-extendable term of live years.”

The proposed changes also state that the authority may require any social media platform to register with it in any manner, form and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.

It further states that in addition to the requirements of the Act, additional conditions or requirements as may be deemed appropriate may be prescribed during listing of social media platforms.

The draft said the authority would be empowered to issue instructions to social media platforms to remove or block online content if it is against the ideology of Pakistan.

• Incites people to violate the law, take the law into their own hands, coerce, intimidate or terrorize the public, individuals, groups, communities, government officials and institutions.
• Incites the public or a section of the public to cause damage to public or private property.
• Coercion or intimidation of the public or sections of the public and thereby preventing them from carrying on their lawful trade and disrupting civil life.
• Inciting hatred and insult on religious, communal or ethnic grounds to incite violence or create internal disturbances
• Contain any obscene or obscene material in violation of any applicable law.
• is known to be forged or false or there are reasonable grounds to believe that it may be false or false beyond a reasonable doubt
• Contains allegations against any person including members of the judiciary, armed forces, parliament or provincial assembly
• or promoted and encouraged terrorism and other forms of violence against the State or its institutions;

Additionally, the draft proposed setting up of a Social Media Complaints Council to receive and process complaints made by aggrieved parties against violation of any provision of the Cybercrime Act.

New Tribunals and Investigation Agency

The draft also proposed the establishment of social media protection tribunals. Each tribunal will have a Chairperson qualified to be a High Court Judge, a Press Club registered journalist and a software engineer.

Tribunals are required to dispose of cases within 90 days, with an appeal to the Supreme Court allowed within 60 days.

Meanwhile, the draft also proposes the creation of an investigative agency to be called the National Cyber ​​Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to investigate, investigate and prosecute the offenses described under the Act.