Karachi: The Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar declared that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) had formally taken effect because it seeks to control fake news along with deepfakes and misuse of social media portals. Tarar stated at his media meeting that the government will discuss particular clauses in detail with stakeholders through cooperative dialogues.
Through his statement Tarar emphasized that the PECA Act represents an essential measure for fighting unwanted propaganda and misinformation which spreads on social media. The newly implemented law continues to evolve because society needs constant improvement. We welcome discussions about particular provisions so we can solve any issues that objectors might have towards them.
The government official stated that critics continue to oppose the Act yet no one has pointed out specific clauses for objection. Stakeholders should present their specific objections to the government which stands ready to adjust the law if necessary concerns arise.
According to Tarar the Act establishes transparency by providing an appeals process to the Council of Complaints throughout its framework. According to him the Tribunal issues tribunal orders in less than 24 hours but these decisions can become subject to High Court review.
Tarar directed that the Social Media Protection Authority should consist of private sector members including journalists and IT professionals for balanced supervision. The Supreme Court maintains its power to accept appeals under this legislation as confirmed by Tarar.
The process for implementing the PECA Act remains unfinished and our team welcomes discussions with all interested parties according to Tarar. The head of_DESC_ asked for teamwork where critics needed to bring their required objections while avoiding total rejection of the policy.
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