Petition Seeks Under-16 Social Media Restrictions in Pakistan -

A petition has been filed before the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), seeking restrictions on social media access for children under 16 and stronger safeguards against indecent content on television and other platforms.

Lawyers Sheraz Zaka and Moin Akhtar filed the petition at the Lahore registry. Zaka described himself as an activist, while Akhtar identified himself as the father of a minor child.

The petitioners contend that children in Pakistan are increasingly exposed to cyberbullying, addictive platform features, sexualised content and the portrayal of alcohol, which they argue can negatively affect their mental and moral development.

They maintain that Pakistani law does not currently require age verification for social media users. According to the petition, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016, contains no specific restriction on social media access for children under 16.

Citing measures adopted in countries including Australia, Italy and Brazil, the petitioners argue that an under-16 social media restriction, supported by an age-verification system, is both practical and necessary.

The petition also accuses the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) of failing to adequately enforce its code of conduct. It alleges that television dramas and advertisements containing intimate scenes and depictions of alcohol are broadcast during hours when children are likely to be watching.

The petitioners have also highlighted Pakistan’s education crisis, pointing to an estimated 25 million out-of-school children and calling for government action to address school dropouts.

They argue that the state’s failure to protect children from harmful online and broadcast content violates constitutional guarantees relating to life, dignity, equality, education and family protection. They have also cited Pakistan’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and a previous Lahore High Court ruling concerning legislation on human rights and social issues.

The petition seeks directions for the federal government to amend Peca 2016 to restrict social media access for under-16s through an age-verification mechanism. It also asks the court to direct Pemra to strictly enforce content standards during child-viewing hours.

In addition, the petition calls for coordination between the government and social media platforms on parental controls, as well as measures to address the country’s high number of out-of-school children and dropout rates.

The petitioners have described the case as the first of its kind in Pakistan. The federal ministries of law and justice and information technology, along with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, Pemra and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, have been named as respondents. – ERMD

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