Pakistan’s Cybercrime Law Weaponised Against Journalists Under PECA

October 03, 2025 – Pakistan – 

Since early 2025, Pakistan’s amended Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) has been used to target journalists and suppress online dissent, with at least nine reporters and multiple YouTube channels facing legal action or censorship.

Under the revised law, authorities have brought lawsuits against media figures, often alleging cybercrimes or defamation, and in some cases have blocked or shuttered digital outlets. Some of the affected YouTube channels belonged to independent journalists covering social justice, human rights, and governance issues.

Despite this escalating clampdown, the Pakistani Parliament moved in September 2025 to introduce further enhancements to PECA, drawing sharper criticism from press freedom groups that allege the law is being weaponised to silence dissent.

Rights organizations warn that these latest developments reflect a broader pattern: PECA is increasingly wielded not as a tool for protecting digital security, but as a means to curb free speech and intimidate critical voices. Women journalists are especially vulnerable, as the law’s enforcement risks exacerbating gender-based online abuse and discouraging reporting on sensitive social issues.

Locally, investigative data and case studies show repeated instances of journalists facing harassment, channel blocking, and legal pressure under PECA’s broad provisions. In response, digital rights groups demand sweeping reform or repeal of the law, arguing that Pakistan’s democracy is under threat when media workers cannot safely operate online.

In short, Pakistan’s use of PECA over the past year illustrates a dangerous shift: from legislating against cybercrime to legal suppression of journalism and expression. The state’s push to strengthen the law, even amid controversy, signals deeper entrenchment of digital censorship. Without revision, the law risks cementing a climate of fear that undermines press freedom in the country.

Reference – 

https://rsf.org/en/pakistan-multiple-journalists-and-dozen-youtube-channels-targeted-under-peca-less-year

https://ebs.publicnow.com/view/1319856D1CA63B9246AF7FA94766A8014BA7EE0B