Islamabad: Under the contentious PECA Amendments Act, the government has announced the creation of a new Social Media Protection Regulatory Authority (SIMPRA), which will have extensive authority.
The updated act’s draft states that ensuring public safety on social media platforms is the main goal of the authority’s establishment. The authority will have the ability to remove accounts, block any social media site, and publish rules for social media use.
SIMPRA will be in charge of establishing guidelines for social media sites that all users must follow. Additionally, the authority will have the power to respond to complaints right away, penalize lawbreakers, and enlist the aid of other groups to guarantee online safety.
In order to exercise its authority, SIMPRA may also cooperate with foreign organizations and sign contracts, according to the proposal. Anyone can report bogus or misleading news, and SIMPRA will decide whether to block or remove the content within 24 hours.
Breaking SIMPRA’s rules could result in up to three years in prison and a fine of two million rupees. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency will also be established by the federal government, and its director-general will have the same authority as a police inspector general. The FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing will be eliminated once the NCCIA is established, and its officers will have the same status as police officers. The NCCIA itself will conduct the forensic analysis.
A chairperson and eight members, each chosen for a five-year term, will make up SIMPRA. This will include the PEMRA Chairman, the PTA Chairman, the Secretary of Information, and their respective officers. The federal government may remove any member from office if they perform poorly. The authority will establish a SIMPRA fund to cover its costs, and the chairman will hold executive authority.
The authority’s headquarters will be in Islamabad, with potential plans to open additional offices in the provincial capitals. SIMPRA has the authority to establish offices wherever it deems necessary.
Journalists staged a walkout as PTI members caused a stir in the assembly after this modified act was approved. The SIMPRA fund will include government grants, authority fees, and income from other sources. Additionally, SIMPRA will have the ability to open accounts in both local and foreign currencies. SIMPRA may receive policy directions from the federal government at any moment, and its rulings will be final in the event of a disagreement.
A New Social Media Regulatory Authority Established Under the Controversial PECA Amendments Act
