IHC Seeks Government Reply on Under-16 Social Media Safety

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has sought a detailed response from the federal government regarding measures to protect children under the age of 16 from the harmful effects of social media use.

The court issued written orders in a petition filed through the father of a minor, Akbar Khan Shinwari. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir released a two-page order directing the Ministry of Information Technology, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and PEMRA to submit para-wise comments.

The court also asked for a progress report on the establishment of a Social Media Regulatory Authority. Authorities have been instructed to provide details on social media regulation, monitoring mechanisms, and implementation of recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

The Islamabad High Court questioned what regulatory framework currently exists for underage social media usage and what steps have been taken to ensure proper age verification mechanisms.

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The court further highlighted that protecting children from online harms is of critical importance and forms part of the constitutional mandate. It observed that unchecked use of social plateforms without regulation poses serious risks to children, including mental health issues and privacy violations.

The petitioner argued that many countries around the world have already introduced laws to regulate social plateforms use among minors, stressing the need for similar protections in Pakistan.