On January 28, 2025, Pakistan's upper house of parliament passed a contentious bill aimed at criminalizing the dissemination of online misinformation. This legislation follows a similar approval by the National Assembly the previous week.
The new law targets individuals who intentionally spread information they believe to be false, particularly if it incites fear, panic, or unrest. Penalties include imprisonment for up to three years and fines reaching 2 million rupees (approximately $7,121 or €6,822).
Additionally, the law establishes an agency empowered to block content deemed unlawful and offensive from social media platforms. Previously, Pakistan's media regulator had blocked Wikipedia over alleged blasphemous content, although the ban was lifted shortly after intervention by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
The bill's passage was met with protests from journalists, who staged a walkout from the Senate's press gallery, expressing feelings of betrayal by the government. Asif Bashir Chaudhry from the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists emphasized the need for open discussion rather than coercion in addressing misinformation.
Opposition leader Shibli Faraz, representing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, criticized the bill as undemocratic and rushed, arguing it could lead to the targeting of political activists. This legislative move comes amidst ongoing internet shutdowns in response to protests demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who supporters claim is a victim of political persecution.