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Pakistan social media regulation petition

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-25 09:35 UTC → 2026-09-02 12:45 UTC · added removed

A legal petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court seeking government regulation of social media use for children under the age of 16 in Pakistan. The petitioner, Waqas Nasir, is requesting a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework to protect minors from cyberbullying, online harassment, and exploitation. The petition calls for the implementation of an effective age-verification system and the development of policies regarding children’s digital rights, privacy, and mental and physical wellbeing. It further seeks to establish dedicated regulatory mechanisms that assign clear responsibilities to digital platforms concerning parental controls and the mitigation of harmful online content. In support of the legal challenge, arguments have cited international precedents such as the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act 2023, Australia’s restrictions on social media for under-16s, and France’s parental consent requirements for children under 15. 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). Following these legal efforts, the Punjab Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution calling for a legal ban on social media accounts for children under 16. Presented by lawmaker Sarah Ahmad, the resolution aims to mitigate risks including online sexual exploitation, inappropriate content, and mental stress. The assembly recommended that the federal government introduce comprehensive legislation and a coordinated mechanism between federal and provincial institutions. It also urged the PTA to implement age-verification systems and suggested that social media companies be held responsible for preventing harmful content, while recommending digital awareness campaigns for parents and educators.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-02 12:45 UTC Pakistan social media regulation petition
  2. 2026-08-25 09:35 UTC Pakistan social media regulation petition

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