National News Desk
Islamabad: A day after the government notified rules specifying how social media would be regulated in Pakistan, technology companies reported that the regulations will make it difficult for them to continue operating in the region.
The rules entitled ‘Removal and Blocking of Illegal Online Content (Procedure, Supervision and Safeguards) Rules 2020’ is set out in the Cyber Crimes Protection Act 2016 (Peca).
In a statement shared with Dawn on Thursday, the Asian Internet Coalition (AIC) expressed its concern about the nature of the new law aimed at internet companies, as well as the government’s “opaque process” through which these rules were created.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed to launch a “broad-based” consultation on content regulation following a strong backlash from stakeholders over the release of the Citizen Safety (Against Online Harm) Regulations 2020.
“The consultation announced in February has never taken place,” said AIC Managing Director Jeff Paine in his statement.
Technology companies cautioned that the rules would make it extremely difficult for AIC representatives to make their services accessible to Pakistani users and businesses.
Under the new regulations, social media firms shall provide the appointed investigative agency with any information or data in a decrypted, readable and comprehensible format.
Subject to justifiable technical restrictions, the information to be given could include information on the subscriber, traffic data, content data and any other information or data.
“Draconian data localization requirements will damage people’s ability to access the free and open internet and shut down Pakistan’s digital economy from the rest of the world,” said AIC.
The companies said it was chilling to see the powers of the PTA broadened, allowing them to force social media companies to violate established human rights standards on privacy and freedom of expression.
After the first publication of the rules in February, the AIC has repeatedly urged the government to follow a robust consultation policy.
Earlier in October, the AIC expressed its reservations about the consultation process in a letter to Prime Minister Khan.
“The lack of transparency in the consultation process, the abbreviated consultation process and strict local office requirements for online platforms are very serious,” Mr Paine said.
“Therefore the consultation process appears to have lost credibility,” he said.
In response to the notification of rules by the government, the AIC on Thursday said if Pakistan wanted to be an attractive destination for technology investment and realise its goal of digital transformation, then it should work with industry on practical, clear rules that protect the benefits of the internet and keep people safe from harm.