'Black law': Civil society reacts to controversial PECA amendments

Journalist associations and digital rights associations have expressed concern about the recently passed Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025, dubbing it the “black law” that would undermine freedom of expression.

The National Assembly approved the controversial PECA bill on Thursday despite a walkout by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers and journalists from the proceedings.

The bill proposes a new provision, Section 26(A), to PECA to penalise perpetrators of 'fake news' online, which states: “Whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system, that he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend upto three years or with fine which may extend to Rs2m or with both.”

The bill proposes that victims of fake and false information would be able to approach the authority to remove or block access to the content in question, adding that the authority would issue orders no later than 24 hours after the request.

One of the key provisions of the new amendments is the formation of the Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA), which will have the authority to remove prohibited content and take action against individuals who share such material.

The media bodies criticised the Peca amendment in a statement, saying that the amendment draft was not shared with them prior to the approval from the National Assembly.

The Journalists’ Rights Group bodies, including the Joint Action Committee (JAC), the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), and the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), issued a joint statement condemning the amendment. 

“JAC and its members have not been shared with any draft as yet. Before studying the draft none of the JAC members are in a position to comment on the proposed amendments,” the statement read.

The statement further read, “Such amendments aim to suppress the freedom of the media, especially social media.”

“The government should come to its senses and immediately withdraw the undemocratic and unnecessary amendment, otherwise journalists across Pakistan will protest vigorously,” the statement added. 

Meanwhile, the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, spoke to reporters at the press gallery in Parliament House on Thursday, saying that the bill aimed to regulate social media and would not target “working journalists.”

“Anyone who is a working journalist will not be affected by this bill. This bill has been put forward because the Federal Investigation Agency does not have the capacity to counter child pornography and deepfakes,” Tarar said.