Silenced

Online speech and its consequences in Pakistan, 2016 to present

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PECA Section 2R: Unlawful or offensive online content

Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016 (as amended in 2025)

What this section covers

Official heading: Unlawful or offensive online content

Added in 2025. Lists the kinds of content the Authority can order platforms to remove or block, including content against the 'ideology of Pakistan' or that incites people to break the law.

Part of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016 (as amended in 2025). Pakistan's cybercrime law, passed in 2016. It makes offences of things done through phones, computers and the internet, including online defamation (section 20), glorifying terrorism (section 9), cyber terrorism (section 10) and, since 2025, spreading 'false or fake' information (section 26-A). It also lets the authorities order online content removed or blocked (section 37).

A plain-language explanation, not legal advice. The official text always takes precedence.

Official text

The official consolidated text, published by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Pakistan Code:


Recent incidents citing this law

The following verified cases are currently mapped on Silenced under this law.

No verified incident on the map cites this law yet.

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