IHC orders implementation of laws against online harassment and blackmail

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the implementation of laws that protect people from online harassment and blackmail. The order also covers the unauthorised sharing of private content and the misuse of digital media.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued the written order. It directs the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to submit a comprehensive report on how the relevant laws are being implemented and how complaints are being addressed.

The court also told the Ministry of IT and other relevant ministries and departments to hold a meeting. The bodies are to identify legal, administrative and technical obstacles to implementation, and to say what steps have been taken or proposed to remove them. They are also to point out where coordination between institutions is needed.

A written report submitted by the PTA has been made part of the court order. According to the report, the rate of blocking unlawful content was 48.42 per cent on X, 78.57 per cent on Facebook and 79.52 per cent on Instagram. It was 87.34 per cent on YouTube and 88.68 per cent on TikTok.

By category, the PTA report put the blocking rate at 59.1 per cent for content related to Pakistan's defence and security. It was 79.51 per cent for terrorism-related content requests, 76.54 per cent for content against the glory of Islam, 98.91 per cent for content on decency and morality, and 64.43 per cent for sectarian and hateful content.

The order notes that social media companies were asked to meet PTA registration requirements and to appoint local officers to handle complaints, but no positive response was received. According to the PTA, social media operators often reject requests to remove content.

The order also says the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act envisages a Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, with wide powers and responsibilities to remove or block unlawful content. The court said the question is whether the legal powers of the competent authorities under the relevant laws and rules are being used, and that the level of coordination between PEMRA, the PTA and the NCCIA needs to be reviewed.