Government of Pakistan releases Citizens Protection Rules 2020

Islamabad, (12/02/202): Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has announced rules for the Citizen’s Protection against Online Harm, which shall come into force immediately.

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According to reports of Baaghi TV, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has released a set of rules to ensure the protection of its citizens against online harm which will be put into action with immediacy. As per the notification issued by the Ministry, every social media company will have to “deploy proactive mechanisms” to ensure that there is no violation of the laws and rules as implemented by the government of Pakistan. Moreover, if any social media company fails to comply, the National coordinator may take action.

[bs-quote quote=”A Social Media Company shall deploy proactive mechanisms to ensure prevention of live streaming through Online Systems in Pakistan of any content in violation of any law, rule, regulation for the time being in force or instruction of the National Coordinator particularly regarding online content related to terrorism, extremism, hate speech, defamation, fake news, incitement to violence and national security.” style=”style-8″ align=”center” color=”#dd0000″ author_name=”Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication” author_job=”Government of Pakistan “][/bs-quote]

Additionally, the notification released by Ministry states that any social media company must register with the authorities within a period of three months, as well as to establish a permanent office that is located within the limits of the capital:

(a) register with the Authority, within three months of the coming into force of these Rules.

(b) establish a permanent registered office in Pakistan with a physical address located in Islamabad, within three months of the coming into force of these Rules.

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According to reports of Baaghi TV, the notification further states that a social media company shall provide information to the investigation agency in “decrypted, readable and comprehensible format or plain version in accordance with the provision of the aforesaid Act.”

[embeddoc url=”https://en.baaghitv.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CP-Against-Online-Harm-Rules-2019-updated.docx” download=”all” viewer=”microsoft”]

[bs-quote quote=”The Social Media Company shall provide to the Investigation Agency designated or established under section 29 of the Act, any information or data or content or sub-content contained in any information system owned or managed or run by the respective Social Media Company, in decrypted, readable and comprehensible format or plain version in accordance with the provision of the aforesaid Act.” style=”style-8″ align=”center” color=”#dd0000″ author_name=”Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication ” author_job=”Government of Pakistan “][/bs-quote]

According to reports of Baaghi TV, in the case that a social media company fails to comply with the aforementioned rules, the National Coordinator will issue instructions to block the “entire Online system” that is in ownership of the social media company.

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[bs-quote quote=”In case a Social Media Company fails to abide by the provision of these Rules, the National Coordinator may issue instructions for blocking of the entire Online System, Social Media Application or services or OTTA owned or managed or run by the said Social Media Company.” style=”style-8″ align=”center” color=”#dd0000″ author_name=”Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication ” author_job=”Government of Pakistan “][/bs-quote]

Moreover, as per reports of Baaghi TV, in case a social media copany fails to abide by the rules, the National Coordinator may also impose a penalty of up to five hundred million rupees.

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