Functions of Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority - Khalid Zafar & Associates

A recent amendment in  Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 provides establishment of Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority(“Authority”). The Authority shall be a body corporate and can be sued in its own name. The principal  office of the Authority shall be in Islamabad and it may set up other offices in provincial capital of all provinces and such other places in Pakistan as the Authority may deem fit. The Authority shall be enforcing the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2025 on social media and in addition thereto shall have following functions:

• regulate the  unlawful  or  offensive  content  on  the  social  media  platforms accessible from Pakistan;

• regulate enlistment of social media platforms;

• grant, renew, refuse, suspend and revoke enlistment of social media platform;

• to partially  or  fully  block  social  media  platform  if  it  fails  to  comply  with  the provisions under this Act until the compliance is made;

• issue guidelines, directives and standards for social media platforms;

• proceed on applications made on any contravention under this Act and take actions accordingly;

• prescribe fines for contravention of the provisions of PECA in respect of social media or rules or regulations made thereunder relevant provisions of PECA;

• issue directions to the relevant authorities to block or remove the unlawful or offensive content for the reasons to be recorded in writing for a period of thirty days subject to grant of another extension if any for maximum period of thirty days by majority of all the members of the Authority;

• ensure online safety and rights of persons on social media platforms from any kind of harm;

• coordinate or engage with other authorities, international agencies or organizations, in any study, training or cooperation project related to online safety;

• promote education and research in the relevant field;

• promote, incentivize and facilitate social media platform;

• promote awareness about issues in the public and private sector through print, digital or social and electronic media etc., or any other medium as the Authority may deem appropriate;

• enter into contracts as may be necessary for the discharge of any of its powers and functions;

• engage in human resource development and training of its officers and staff;

• liaise and interact with counterpart organizations in other countries for capacity building and exchange of information;

• carry out capacity building and training of relevant entrepreneurs and providing them with facilities, including but not limited to, setting up incubation centers to promote responsible social media platform;

• coordinate the implementation of any foreign-aided technical assistance projects;

• make regulations for receiving or processing complaints and to provide a remedial mechanism;

• to initiate action on any contravention of the provisions of this Act or rules made thereunder on its own motion or on receipt of an application as the case may be;

• constitute such committees  or  sub-committees,  for  the  performance  of  its functions, as it may deem appropriate; and

• perform any other function that is ancillary, incidental or consequential to any of the aforesaid functions.