Pemra to begin social media regulation from today

LAHORE: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Director-General Ayesha Manzoor Wattoo said on Thursday that the regulator would begin the process of regulating social media from Thursday (today).

Speaking at a seminar on social media regulation, Wattoo said that digital media was no longer merely an extension of electronic media but had emerged as a separate and important sector that should also be viewed as part of the economy.

“Today, every person has a mobile phone and everyone is expressing their views,” she said, adding that Pemra’s responsibility was not limited to banning content or issuing notices.

Wattoo said that Pemra also had a role in nation-building and preventing the spread of fake news.

She said that the regulator generated its own revenue and did not receive funds from the government.

The Pemra chief said that social media revenue had become an important component of the overall income of television channels, arguing that digital media should therefore be viewed not only as a media platform but also as an economic sector.

Referring to recent tensions and the use of artificial intelligence-generated content, Wattoo alleged that India had produced fake footage using deepfake technology.

She said the Inter-Services Public Relations director-general had defended Pakistan’s position, while electronic media had also acted responsibly.

Wattoo said that had social media been regulated at the time, Pakistan could have responded more effectively to narratives being promoted by its opponents.

What is the legal framework?

Pemra was established under the Pemra Ordinance 2002 to regulate private electronic media, including broadcast and distribution services.

The regulator’s current website lists satellite television, radio, cable, IPTV and other broadcast-related services among its regulatory areas.

Pemra has previously considered extending its regulatory framework to internet-based content.

Its consultation paper on Web TV and over-the-top (OTT) services sought views on whether such services should be regulated by Pemra, while the authority has also formed committees to consider bringing Web TV and OTT content services within the broadcast-media framework.

However, the legal landscape for social media has since developed separately.

Amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act in 2025 provided for the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, specifically tasked with regulating social media platforms, including their enlistment and unlawful or offensive online content.

The law also provides powers relating to removal or blocking of specified content and action against non-compliant platforms.

The amended law also contains transitional provisions under which existing institutions continue to perform certain functions until the new authority and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency are established.

The National Assembly’s and the Senate passed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Act 2026 earlier.

The question of children’s social media use has also recently reached the courts.

In August, the Islamabad High Court sought responses from the government, Pemra, the PTA and other authorities on a petition seeking a framework to regulate social media use by children under 16.

Against this backdrop, Wattoo’s announcement that Pemra would begin regulating social media from Thursday raises questions about how the regulator’s proposed role will operate alongside the statutory framework governing social media platforms and the authorities created under the amended cybercrime law.

Under the existing legal framework, Pemra’s primary mandate is limited to the oversight and regulation of private electronic and broadcast media, while a separate legal framework governs social media.

It is also unclear under what legal authority or mechanism Pemra would take steps to regulate social media, particularly as the Islamabad High Court, only a few days ago, sought responses from Pemra and other relevant institutions regarding their regulatory jurisdiction over social media.