No Law Currently Bans Social Media Use by Under-16s, PTA Tells Islamabad High Court

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has submitted its detailed response to the Islamabad High Court in a case concerning restrictions on social media use by children under the age of 16.

According to the PTA’s response, there is currently no specific law in Pakistan that prohibits children below 16 from using social media platforms.

The authority said it cannot introduce an age-verification mechanism for social media users by going beyond the powers granted to it under existing legislation.

The PTA maintained that protecting children from online risks requires a new legal and policy framework that clearly defines the responsibilities of regulators, platforms and other stakeholders.

The authority also stated that its existing powers to block unlawful online content are limited and interim in nature and do not provide a legal basis for imposing a blanket age-based restriction on social media use.

The PTA further informed the court that amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) provide for the establishment of a Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, which is expected to play a role in the regulation of social media platforms and online safety.

The case concerns a petition seeking stronger safeguards for children using social media, including an effective age-verification mechanism and a regulatory framework to protect minors from cyberbullying, harassment and harmful online content.

The Islamabad High Court had earlier sought responses from the relevant ministries, PTA and other regulatory bodies after the petition was filed, with the matter focusing on the need for legislation and a formal mechanism to regulate children’s access to social media.

The PTA’s latest response places the issue of under-16 social media restrictions within the broader question of whether existing laws provide sufficient authority for age verification and child online-safety measures.