On February 11, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the federal government and relevant authorities to furnish a detailed report by March 3 on the actions taken to regulate social media access for minors under 16 years of age. The directive was issued to the Ministry of Information Technology, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) following a constitutional petition by a 12-year-old, represented by his father. It has also sought details regarding the establishment of a proposed social media regulatory authority and enforcement mechanisms under recent amendments to the law.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, overseeing the case, stressed the urgent need for a framework to ensure the safety and well-being of children, protecting them from the myriad risks associated with unregulated social media usage, such as cyberbullying, mental health issues, and privacy breaches. The court specifically requested updates on the development of age-verification tools, the progress in establishing the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, and any draft measures or enforcement actions being considered or implemented.
The petition, initiated by Akbar Khan Shinwari through his advocate father Afzal Khan Shinwari, cited international precedents where strict regulations have been imposed on social media usage by minors. These include recent legislative changes in Australia, France, Norway, Malaysia, and proposed measures in Denmark, alongside the UK’s stringent age verification requirements. The petitioner urged Pakistan to adopt similar protections to shield minors from the adverse effects of digital platforms.
In response to this petition, the IHC’s written order highlighted the paramount importance of shielding children from online harms and the necessity for a robust regulatory mechanism. The court has sought comprehensive para-wise comments from the concerned authorities detailing the steps already taken and those in the pipeline regarding this issue.
