The Islamabad High Court has given four federal ministries and two regulators 15 days to respond to a petition seeking an age-verification mechanism for social media accounts held by children under 16.
Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar issued notices to four ministries: Information Technology and Telecommunication, Information and Broadcasting, Interior, and Law and Justice. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority were also served. The court directed the law officer to ensure the notices are implemented.
The petition was filed by Waqas Nasir through advocates Muhammad Jalal Haider and Yahya Farid Khawaja earlier in August. It asks for legislation and for an effective age-verification mechanism covering accounts operated by children.
Haider argued that legislation is urgently needed to protect children from cyberbullying, online harassment and harmful or inappropriate content, and that safeguarding the best interests of children is a constitutional and legal responsibility of the state.
The exchange in court turned on whether any such law exists. Justice Dogar asked whether Pemra had powers dealing with the issue. Haider replied that the regulator can act against a person on the basis of a complaint but that no specific legislation governs children’s access to social media. Asked directly whether any law had been enacted for the purpose, he said none had.
The petition asks the court to direct the government to build a legal and regulatory framework for children’s online protection, covering digital rights, privacy, and mental and physical safety, and to place specific duties on platforms. It relies on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and General Comment No. 25, arguing that protecting children is a legal obligation rather than a policy preference.
It also points to measures adopted elsewhere, including Australia’s under-16 restrictions and France’s parental consent requirement.
Provincial politics has been moving in the same direction. A resolution submitted in the Punjab Assembly last month by MPA Sarah Ahmad urged the provincial government to recommend federal legislation banning social media accounts for under-16s without parental consent.
Other jurisdictions in the region have moved from debate to duty, with Singapore requiring robust age checks on social media platforms and a New Zealand bill placing an age assurance duty on platforms.
Sources: Dawn
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
