Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 was enacted to bring certain amendments in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 as previously amended by Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2023.
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 (“Amendment”) is primarily enacted to regulate the social media issues and establishes the Social Media Protection Authority (“Authority”) by notification in the Federal Gazette. The Authority would be a body corporate having perpetual succession and common seal and may sue and be sued in its own name. The Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority Fund shall be established to meet the financial needs in connection with carrying out its functions. The Social Media Protection Authority may require any social media platform to enlist with it in such manner, form and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed by the Authority.
The Social Media Protection Authority has powers to issue directions if any line is against the Contents which can be Restricted by Social Media Protection Authority including fake news, aspersions against Judiciary, Armed Forces, Parliament or Provincial Assembly. The Authority has the capacity of handling social media complaints and a Social Media Complaint Council would also be established. The Amendment also provides provisions for establishing Social Media Protection Tribunals.
A new investigation agency (instead of FIA) to be called National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for inquiry, investigation and prosecution of the offences specified under PECA. NCCIA shall have its Director General having the power of Inspector General of Police under Police Order, 2002. After establishment of NCCIA the Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency would cease to exist.
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Functions of Social Media Protection Authority
Contents which can be Restricted by Social Media Protection Authority
