Aamna Aamna 
Pakistani police have initiated a massive campaign against the alleged authors of anti-state posts on social media networks, which can be considered a major step towards the fight against digital fake news. It has resulted in seven other people being identified and arrested for sharing what the authorities regard as malicious digital content, in a similar crackdown this week. The decision was made within the scope of the government’s general efforts of managing the circulation of fake news and safeguarding the country’s institutions from online threats.
Police have stated that the accused persons including Muhammad Sohail, Muhammad Junaid, and Sheikh Muhammad Ehsan have been using WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter) as they put it, to disseminate what they call propaganda. Currently, individuals are being searched by the police, which is an increase in the government’s actions to control the content published on the internet. This came a day after the registration of cases against 12 other persons, indicating that it is going after everyone in its attempt to curb freedom of speech on social media.
That is why the Pakistani government has plans for significant changes in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) to respond to the development of fake news. A suggested initial plan is to create the powerful Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA) whose major tasks would be to filter and remove content threatening national institutions. The proposed amendments include severe penalties for those who disseminate fake news; up to five years imprisonment, up to one million Rupees fine, or both; reflecting the government’s intolerance to regulate cybertrends.
