News Desk:
The federal government has decided to regulate social media in the country through an ordinance. Despite criticism and reservations from the key stakeholders and digital rights activists, the federal government is all set to regulate social media across the country.
Under the ordinance, defamation of people and institutions on social media would be declared a cognizable offense, with jail term being increased from two to five years.
The drafts of the proposed legislation, including an amendment to the Elections Act 2017 allowing members of the parliament to take part in election campaigns, had already been circulated among the federal cabinet members for approval, said Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry while talking to reporters in Islamabad.
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government had recently rolled back its plan to establish one authority to regulate all media, including social media, after facing strong resistance from almost all the stakeholders, including journalist bodies and civil society organizations.
