ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Thursday called for stronger regulation of social media platforms, improved fact-checking mechanisms and greater public awareness to counter misinformation, disinformation and fabricated content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Islamabad, Tarar said social media algorithms prioritised engagement \u2014 including views, clicks, likes and reposts \u2014 rather than the accuracy of information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn a typical media set up, the gatekeeper of information was the editor. But now \u2026 the gatekeeper of information is an algorithm,\u201d he said, adding that algorithms had no inherent system of verification and were designed to maximise engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the government was engaging with social media platforms to promote the labelling of artificial intelligence-generated content, adding that TikTok had made AI labelling mandatory for content fully or partially created using artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tarar said a more robust regulatory framework<\/a> was needed for social media, where editorial filters that existed in traditional electronic media were largely absent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also called for stronger internal fact-checking mechanisms on platforms such as X, citing its Community Notes feature as an example of how users could be alerted when old footage was shared as a recent event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The minister said three areas required attention: better coordination with social media platforms and stronger fact-checking systems; capacity-building and public awareness; and collaboration with educational institutions to introduce courses on algorithms, digital media and fact-checking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tarar said the government had established Pakistan\u2019s first Digital Communication Department<\/a> after he took over as information minister, following changes to the ministry\u2019s rules of business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said the department brought together graphic designers, video editors, content creators and scriptwriters to verify information and communicate it in formats suited to different audiences and platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He stressed that there could be no \u201cone size fits all\u201d approach to digital communication, as content suitable for TikTok might not work on Instagram, Facebook or X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The minister said the government was also working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) and other ministries to strengthen its capacity to verify information. He called for specialised courses in mass communication, journalism and digital media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Responding to a question about balancing the need to share information quickly with the requirement to verify facts during emergencies, Tarar said information should be released gradually as details were confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said authorities could initially report that an incident had occurred, while its different aspects and details could be shared later in coordination with relevant agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said effective crisis communication required coordination among the government, state institutions, media organisations and social media platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Referring to the conflict with India during Marka-e-Haq, Tarar said false and fabricated information had been circulated by India before, during and after the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said Pakistan had countered such claims by sharing evidence, including video footage and verified accounts of events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tarar also praised Pakistani journalists, anchors, reporters and young social media users for what he described as responsible conduct during the conflict. He particularly cited memes created by Gen Z users, saying they had become part of the public response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said coordination with Director General of Inter-Services Public Relation Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry had helped ensure that information was shared in real time with television channels and across digital platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The minister said verified information, coordination and communication tailored to different platforms were essential to countering false claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tarar called for stronger laws to tackle crimes in the digital space and proposed an international convention to address the harmful use of artificial intelligence (AI), including misinformation, disinformation and fabricated content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said Pakistan needed an effective domestic regulatory framework to deal with cybercrime, online harassment and the misuse of AI-generated audio and video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said the government had established the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), with regional offices being set up and personnel receiving training, to investigate offences committed in the digital space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The minister also defended the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), saying it was intended to prevent electronic and cybercrime rather than restrict freedom of expression or stop journalists from carrying out their professional duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asked whether Pakistan was prepared to deal with AI-generated audio and videos that could be used to defame individuals, violate privacy or target governments, Tarar said the country needed both domestic legislation and international cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said he had proposed at two international conferences \u2014 one in Riyadh and another in Istanbul \u2014 that an international convention be drawn up to address the harmful use of AI and prevent misinformation and disinformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The proposed convention, he said, could be supported by an international organisation or body, with countries signing up as member states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tarar said the misuse of AI extended beyond the spread of false information and posed a threat to creative industries, including advertising and filmmaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of our creative talent is going out of jobs,\u201d he said, referring to people involved in developing creative concepts, modelling and other work in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He stressed the need for a degree of human interaction and input in the use of AI, saying the technology could not be allowed to replace human creativity entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tarar said the establishment of the NCCIA was an important step towards addressing crimes committed in the digital space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He cited cases in which women were blackmailed or received inappropriate messages online, as well as issues involving child pornography and child abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also referred to a social media post by a hardliner offering a bounty for the killing of a former chief justice, questioning whether authorities had previously been equipped to deal with such threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWere we able to address that issue? The answer is no, because there was no regulatory framework,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The minister said the NCCIA, backed by PECA, would provide a forum for citizens facing online threats to seek redress and bring those responsible to justice within the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He called for greater public awareness, particularly among marginalised groups, so that people knew where to report cybercrime and how to seek protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tarar said the government also needed to strengthen laws to prevent crimes in the digital sphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said the Social Media Regulatory and Protection Authority had also been established and its chairperson appointed. The authority, he added, would evolve gradually as legal precedents, regulations and procedures developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said the process would involve the development of case law, regulations, penalties, court proceedings, trials, convictions and acquittals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Responding to concerns that PECA<\/a> could affect journalists\u2019 right to report and hold the government accountable, Tarar said several regulatory bodies already existed to oversee different aspects of the media industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He cited the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) for electronic media, the Press Registrar, the Audit Bureau of Circulations and the Press Council, as well as the Council of Complaints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also referred to the Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE), which deals with disputes and issues involving newspaper employees and has legal and statutory backing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPECA is purely for the prevention of electronic crimes and crimes committed in cyber and digital spaces,\u201d he said, adding that it was not intended to impose restrictions on freedom of expression or prevent journalists from performing their professional duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tarar said the law was meant to provide protection to people facing threats or defamation through digital platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also called for stronger defamation laws, saying people who could afford to do so often pursued defamation cases abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said even media organisations sometimes filed defamation suits in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The minister maintained that PECA was intended to regulate threats arising from the cyber and digital space, where, he said, no other dedicated body existed to address such offences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PAK SOUCH MEDIA GROUP<\/p>\n\n\n\n Daily Pak Souch Newspaper Sukkur \u2013 Daily Pak Special Newspaper Karachi \u2013 Daily Pak Today Newspaper Karachi – Daily Pak Jazbo Newspaper Sukkur<\/p>\n\n\n\n Head Office : Ayub Gate Shaikh Muhalla Near Rabbania Masjid Sukkur<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karachi Office : Office No. 1901-B, 19th Floor Saima Trade Tower (B) Block I.I Chandigarh Road Near Jung Press, Shaheen Complex & National Museum of Pakistan Karachi Sindh Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contact : 03009319022<\/p>\n\n\n\n Website 1 : https:\/\/paksouch.com\/<\/a> ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Thursday called for stronger regulation of social media platforms, improved fact-checking mechanisms and greater public awareness to counter misinformation,..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19040,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pakistan"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/paksouch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Pak-Souch-Social-Media-Poster-31.png",800,947,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/paksouch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Pak-Souch-Social-Media-Poster-31-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/paksouch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Pak-Souch-Social-Media-Poster-31-253x300.png",253,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/paksouch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Pak-Souch-Social-Media-Poster-31-768x909.png",768,909,true],"large":["https:\/\/paksouch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Pak-Souch-Social-Media-Poster-31.png",800,947,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/paksouch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Pak-Souch-Social-Media-Poster-31.png",800,947,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/paksouch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Pak-Souch-Social-Media-Poster-31.png",800,947,false]},"author_info":{"info":["admin"]},"category_info":"Pakistan<\/a>","tag_info":"Pakistan","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19039"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19039\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19041,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19039\/revisions\/19041"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19040"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Government\u2019s digital communication system<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Information flow during crises<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
NCCIA to tackle online harassment, cybercrime<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tarar says PECA does not restrict press freedom<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Website 2 : https:\/\/sindhi.paksouch.com\/<\/a>
Website 3 : https:\/\/pakjazbo.com\/<\/a>
Website 4 : https:\/\/urdu.pakjazbo.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"