Govt announces crackdown against hate speech on social media

In order to control hate speech on social media in Pakistan, the government has prepared a mechanism that it is set to launch in the next few days.

Addressing an event in Islamabad on Wednesday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced that the government has developed a mechanism to control hate speech on social media. The information minister said that as digital media was taking over formal media, it was necessary for the government to regulate this.

Chaudhry said that a group has been formed, including Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) representatives and other security agencies, which is working on the task of checking hate speech on social media, local media reported. The minister further said that the government had managed to control hate speech on traditional speech and now it was planning to regulate it on social media.

The minister added that the government is giving new authority to Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority, under which digital, print and electronic media will be controlled under one-window. Chaudhry said that the government will start a comprehensive crackdown on hate speech on social media in the next few weeks.

Chaudhry also said that some important arrests were made this week against those who had used the social media by issuing fatwas and spreading extremist narratives.