ISLAMABAD: A committee has been formed to begin the consultation process on the Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020.
The committee will begin an extensive and broad-based consultation process that will be completed within two months.
The committee will include the Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari and Barrister Ali Zafar. Amir Azeem Bajwa, the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (convener), Eazaz Aslam Dar, the additional secretary of Ministry of IT and Telecom, Tania Aidrus, member of Strategic Reforms Implementation Unit, and focal person to the Prime Minister on Digital Media Dr. Arslan Khalid will also be made part of the committee.
According to the new set of rules, companies like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok are required to register and establish an office in Islamabad within three months. Such social media platforms and companies have been conditioned to appoint a focal person in Pakistan and build a data server in the country within a year.
The new rules stated that the permissibility of any online content, by the authority or the National Coordinator under law, rule, regulation or instruction, shall take precedence over any policies or any other devices.
Read more: IHC hears new social media regulations case
ADVERTISEMENT
