ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought responses from the federal government and regulatory bodies on a petition seeking social media restrictions for children under 16.
IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar heard the petition on Monday. The court issued notices to several federal ministries and regulatory authorities.
These include the Ministry of Information Technology, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Law, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).
Court Questions Existing Legal Framework
During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer argued that the state has a constitutional and legal duty to protect children’s best interests.
The counsel also pointed to measures introduced in several countries to regulate children’s access to social media.
“Different countries are making children’s use of social media subject to age limits and safety measures,” the counsel said.
The court subsequently questioned Pemra about existing laws governing children’s social media use.
“Is there any law in Pemra regarding this? Has any such law been made so far?” the court asked.
The counsel responded that Pakistan currently has no specific legislation regulating social media access for children. He added that Pemra can act when someone files a complaint.
Following the hearing, the court issued notices to the relevant ministries and regulatory bodies. It also directed the law officer to ensure compliance with the notices.
Petition Seeks Age Verification System
A citizen filed the petition through lawyers Muhammad Jalal Haider and Yahya Fareed Khawaja.
The plea seeks an effective age-verification system for social media accounts belonging to children under 16. It also calls for comprehensive legislation and regulations to protect children from online risks.
These risks include cyberbullying, online harassment, harmful content, and other potentially damaging effects of social media use.
The petition also cited international examples of child-focused digital safety measures. These include Australia’s restrictions on social media accounts for children under 16 and France’s parental consent requirement for children under 15.
Furthermore, the petition referred to the UK’s Online Safety Act 2023 and proposed measures in New Zealand and Spain concerning children under 16.
The petitioner argued that these developments reflect a growing international focus on age verification, parental controls, and online safety.
Plea Calls for Stronger Child Protection
The petition also referred to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and General Comment No. 25.
It argued that protecting children’s best interests remains a constitutional and legal responsibility of the state.
Therefore, the petitioner has requested a comprehensive policy covering children’s digital rights, privacy, and mental and physical well-being.
The plea also seeks a dedicated mechanism for social media protection and regulation involving children.
Additionally, it asks the federal government to introduce appropriate legislation governing social media access for children under 16.
The IHC’s latest proceedings could therefore contribute to a broader discussion about children’s online safety and the need for stronger digital protections in Pakistan.
