Islamabad High Court petition seeks social media regulation for children

A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court seeking government regulation of social media use for children under the age of 16. The legal challenge calls for the establishment of a comprehensive framework to ensure digital safety and protect minors from cyberbullying, online harassment, and exploitation.

The petitioners are requesting the implementation of an effective age-verification system and the introduction of legislation that addresses children’s digital rights, privacy, and mental and physical wellbeing. The plea also seeks to establish dedicated regulatory mechanisms that assign clear responsibilities to digital platforms regarding parental controls and the mitigation of harmful online content.

In support of the petition, legal arguments cited international precedents, including Australia’s restrictions on social media for under-16s, France’s parental consent requirements for children under 15, and the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act 2023. The petition names several government bodies as respondents, including the Ministries of Information Technology, Information, Interior, and Law, as well as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).