The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that it does not possess the legal authority to prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms. This statement was made in response to a case seeking a ban on social media use by minors below 16 years.
Alongside the PTA, the Ministry of Information, Ministry of Interior, and the National Commission on the Rights of Child have also submitted their responses to the court. The PTA emphasized that no existing law in Pakistan currently forbids children under 16 from using social media.
The regulator further explained that implementing an age-verification system for children would exceed its legal mandate. It highlighted the necessity for a new legal and policy framework aimed at safeguarding children from online dangers.
In a significant development, the PTA mentioned the upcoming establishment of the Social Media Protection Authority under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025. This new body will handle complaints related to unlawful content and impersonation on social media platforms.
Meanwhile, the responsibility for addressing cybercrimes and the spread of obscene material now lies with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). The PTA revealed that it has reviewed over 1.789 million unlawful online links and URLs, blocking more than 1.577 million that violated laws. Its overall blocking rate stands at 88.20 percent, with over 1.066 million websites and links removed due to obscene content.
The PTA also noted that HTTPS encryption complicates the process of blocking specific content, often necessitating the blocking of entire websites.
Efforts to enhance child safety online include awareness campaigns conducted in partnership with UNICEF, TikTok, Meta, and the GSM Association (GSMA). The PTA has also sought cooperation from social media companies to appoint local compliance and grievance officers, but these requests have yet to receive a response.
The authority has urged the court to dismiss any petition requests that extend beyond the PTA’s legal jurisdiction.
Internationally, several countries have introduced or are considering age restrictions on social media use by children, though the minimum age and enforcement vary. Australia, for example, has set a legal minimum age of 16 for social media accounts, placing the onus on platforms to enforce compliance with potential penalties for violations. France has taken steps to limit younger children’s access, and the UK is exploring measures to protect minors from online harms.
This issue has attracted global attention as governments seek to address concerns about children’s exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, exploitation, and other online risks.
