Body formed for consultation on Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020

The government has constituted a committee to start consultation process on the Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020, which has attracted criticism from various segments of society. The government has notified Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules, 2020 to ensure prevention of online content related to terrorism, extremism, hate speech, defamation, fake news, incitement to violence and national security.

However, some segments of the society have termed it against the spirit of Cyber Crimes Act as well as in contradiction to the Constitution.

The Asian Internet Coalition (AIC) also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, while Google, Facebook and other tech giants threatened to abandon Pakistan.

Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication Secretary Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui had on Tuesday informed a parliamentary panel that the prime minister had directed for broad-based consultations with all the stakeholders on the implementation of rules.

An official statement of the IT Ministry issued here on Friday stated that in pursuance of the prime minister's directions, a committee has been formed to start consultation process on Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020.

The committee comprises Amir Azeem Bajwa, chairman of Pakistan Telecommunic-ation Authority (convener), Eazaz Aslam Dar, additional secretary of Ministry of IT and Telecom, Tania Aidrus, member of Strategic Reforms Implementation Unit, Prime Minister's Office, Islamabad, and Dr Arslan Khalid, focal person to the prime minister on digital media, Prime Minister's Office, Islamabad.

The committee will undertake extensive and broad-based consultation process with all the relevant segments of the civil society and technology companies about these rules.

The process will be completed within two months.

Dr Shireen Mazari, minister for human rights, and Barrister Ali Zafar will also be involved in consultations.