IHC orders enforcement of laws against online harassment, blackmail

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the implementation of laws aimed at preventing online harassment, blackmail and the unauthorised dissemination of private content, seeking a comprehensive report from the relevant authorities.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued the written order, directing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to submit a comprehensive report on the enforcement of laws governing the misuse of digital media and the redressal of related complaints.

The court directed the Ministry of Information Technology, Pemra, PTA, NCCIA and other relevant ministries and departments to convene a meeting to review the implementation of the existing legal framework.

The relevant authorities were asked to identify legal, administrative and technical obstacles to enforcement and explain what measures had been taken or proposed to address them.

The court also directed the authorities to identify areas requiring better coordination among the departments and provide details of measures taken to prevent online harassment, blackmail and the unauthorised dissemination of private content.

The written order also incorporated a report submitted by the PTA, which included figures on the blocking of unlawful content on social media platforms.

According to the PTA report, the compliance rate for requests to block content relating to Pakistan’s defence and security stood at 59.1 per cent, while the rate for requests concerning terrorism-related content was 79.51 per cent.

The report stated that 76.54 per cent of content classified as being against the sanctity of Islam was blocked, while the rate for content related to decency and morality stood at 98.91 per cent. The rate for blocking sectarian and hate speech content was 64.43 per cent.

Platform-wise figures showed that the content-blocking rate was 48.42 per cent on X, formerly Twitter, 78.57 per cent on Facebook and 79.52 per cent on Instagram. The rates stood at 87.34 per cent on YouTube and 88.68 per cent on TikTok, according to the PTA.

The written order said social media companies had been asked to fulfil registration requirements with the PTA and appoint local-level officers to address complaints. However, no positive response had been received, it added.

According to the PTA, social media operators frequently reject requests to remove content.

The court noted that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act provides for the establishment of a Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, assigning it broad powers and responsibilities to remove or block unlawful content.

The court questioned whether the competent authorities were exercising the legal powers available to them under the relevant laws and rules.

It also stressed the need to assess the extent of coordination among Pemra, the PTA and the NCCIA in enforcing the legal framework governing digital content.