The long-standing dispute between the Government of Pakistan and social media companies regarding the revision of social media rules has finally been resolved. A mutually agreed-upon solution has been reached, bringing an end to the impasse.
Officials from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) confirmed that the federal government has finalized the revised social media rules. As part of the agreement, social media companies will establish virtual offices in Pakistan, eliminating the requirement of physical offices.
Under the new arrangement, a designated representative from each social media company will be available round the clock in these virtual offices to address any concerns raised by the Government of Pakistan. Complaints lodged by the government will be given priority by the social media companies for timely resolution.
To effectively deal with objectionable content, the Social Media Rules Committee has categorized it into three sections: red, yellow, and green lists. The most sensitive and offensive content falls under the red list, which social media companies will be obligated to remove promptly upon identification. Content in the yellow list must be removed within 72 hours of receiving a complaint, while routine complaints will be categorized under the green list.
Notably, the responsibility of regulating social media companies will remain with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and there are no plans to establish a separate regulatory authority for this purpose.
Furthermore, the penalties proposed in the revised social media rules will be retained, ensuring compliance and accountability among social media platforms.
This resolution marks a significant milestone in the relationship between the Government of Pakistan and social media companies, setting the stage for better cooperation and effective management of digital platforms.
