On December 18, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar warned that misinformation circulating on social media has become one of the most serious challenges of the digital age, highlighting the need for responsible online behaviour and improved cybersecurity awareness. Speaking at the concluding session of the National Cyber Security Seminar in Islamabad, he outlined demographic, technological and regulatory factors shaping Pakistan’s evolving digital landscape.

Tarar said any effective understanding of cybersecurity must begin with Pakistan’s demographic realities. The country, he noted, now has more than 117 million internet users, 148 million mobile broadband subscribers and over 79 million active social media accounts. He described a generational divide between digital immigrants, who adopted technology later in life, and digital natives, who grew up using digital tools. According to him, these differences require tailored approaches to awareness and outreach, as no single model suits all users or platforms.

Reviewing the development of Pakistan’s media environment, the minister said the transition from print to electronic media took place gradually and with strong editorial oversight, supported by formal structures such as the establishment of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority in the early 2000s. In contrast, he noted that the shift from electronic to digital media was abrupt and occurred without adequate preparation. He said regulatory gaps, limited public awareness and a slow understanding of cyberspace contributed to current challenges.

Tarar cited incidents in which misinformation had spread rapidly, including false claims linking Pakistan to the recent Bondi Beach attack in Sydney. He said the allegations were made without evidence and had affected Pakistan’s image abroad. He also referred to similar unfounded reports on 16 December, when Pakistan marked the anniversary of the Army Public School attack. He warned that such misinformation placed overseas Pakistanis at risk and underscored the scale of the problem globally, noting that world leaders at the World Economic Forum had identified fake news as a major contemporary challenge.

The minister outlined government initiatives to strengthen cybersecurity and counter misinformation. He said operational cybersecurity centres were already working to address threats and that enhancements to the National Cyber Security Policy were under way to improve data protection. He also announced a nationwide cybersecurity awareness campaign aimed at educating citizens on digital safety and responsible conduct.

He added that Pakistan’s first Digital Communication Department had been established, accompanied by a fact-checking unit and coordination with media organisations to verify information. Tarar welcomed steps such as TikTok’s introduction of AI content labels and called for other platforms to adopt similar measures. He said artificial intelligence was increasingly being used to generate misleading content, including in advertising, affecting various professional fields.

Tarar said further measures were planned, including specialised training programmes and workshops for journalists to support verification processes and responsible reporting. He emphasised that collaboration between the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, the United Nations Development Programme and the Government of Pakistan would support the development of platform-specific strategies to address digital challenges.