Pakistan’s e‑commerce and digital space have seen rapid growth over the last decade, but this surge has also brought new challenges. The recent Unlawful Online Content Law, enacted under the Ministry of Communications, aims to curb the spread of harmful material while safeguarding civil liberty. This blog outlines the main elements of the law, case studies, and best practices for residents and businesses navigating this regulatory landscape.
Key Provisions of the Unlawful Online Content Law
- Expanded definition of unlawful content to include defamation, hate speech, extremist propaganda, and child‑pornography.
- Mandatory content removal within 24 hours upon receiving a court order.
- Uniform jurisdiction for cyber‑crime tribunals, bridging gaps between law enforcement and judiciary.
- Clear standing for liability for platform operators (ISPs, social media, e‑commerce) and users.
- Criminal sanctions ranging from fines to imprisonment, with thresholds based on severity and repeatilty.
Recent Enforcement Actions
In the past 12 months seven major cases have been processed: a high‑profile defamation site was shut down following a UAE‑based lawsuit; a popular music forum faced a $100,000 fine for repeated uploads of copyrighted content; and a local gamer community that disseminated extremist content was dismantled after a coordinated police operation.
Implications for Businesses
- Compliance audits are now mandatory for digital platforms.
- Robust user‑generated content (UGC) moderation pipelines must be in place.
- Data backup and archival procedures must ensure traceability of removed content.
- Legal counsel should coordinate with IT teams to draft policies responding to 24‑hour notice requirements.
Best Practices for Individuals
- Check the credibility of sources before sharing.
- Report suspicious content through official channels.
- Regularly update privacy settings and use high‑quality anti‑spam filters.
- Keep logs of content for potential legal challenges.
By staying informed and proactively implementing compliance measures, users and custodians can contribute to a safer, more responsible online environment. For more updates or legal guidance, feel free to contact our compliance team.
