Karachi: Senior journalist Azaz Syed from Geo News stated on Wednesday, “I may not be able to continue hosting my show because the content I put up will most certainly land me in prison.” He was referring to the recent amendment to the cybercrime law, calling it a “wild” law designed to tackle fake news and other online threats.
Cybercrime (Amendment) Act 2025
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025, passed hastily in both houses of parliament without debate and signed into law by President Asif Ali Zardari on January 29, 2025, has sparked nationwide protests by media professionals.
Azaz Syed expressed that his “freedom of expression” had been taken away under the new law, warning that under it, any content he shared could result in jail time.
Information Minister’s Defense
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar responded to the protests by saying, “There was no regulation for social media before; now this law fills that gap.” He emphasized that the law wasn’t meant to limit traditional media like PEMRA but to control social media, which lacked any regulation.
Journalists’ Concerns
Journalists like Hamid Mir and Azaz Syed, who have online platforms, fear that the new law could silence their voices. Hamid Mir stated that running his own YouTube channel after being banned from TV had been liberating, but he now worries that his voice might be censored on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
Law’s Impact
Under the law, spreading fake news could result in up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs. 2 million. However, Farieha Aziz, co-founder of “Bolo Bhi,” pointed out that the biggest issue with this law is the vague and broad definition of what constitutes fake news, which could lead to people avoiding sharing or discussing information out of fear of legal consequences.
Legal Bodies and Oversight
The law establishes four new bodies: the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, the Social Media Complaints Council, the Social Media Protection Tribunal, and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency. There are concerns about the independence of these bodies, as they will be appointed by the federal government, raising issues of potential bias and conflict of interest.
Media’s Responsibility
Umar Cheema, a senior investigative journalist, acknowledged the need to regulate social media but criticized the law as “third-class.” He argued that the government is using this law to stifle political dissent and curb freedom of expression. Cheema also noted that the media, which failed to create its own code of conduct for responsible social media use, should share the blame for the government’s decision to intervene.
Conclusion
Ataullah Tarar concluded that “The rules are still being worked out, and we are open to media input to improve them.” However, it’s clear that this law poses a new challenge for journalists who now navigate an environment of fear and self-censorship.
