SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)
This long-awaited cybercrimes act was supposed to help those who are being threatened, harassed and robbed online while not affecting the ease, availability and openness of online spaces. However it aimed at regulating Internet usage is tougher, curbs civil liberties and focuses more on moral aspects of Internet use than cybercrime itself. At least this is how most information technology experts describe the new Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill 2015, which was sent to the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecom couple of weeks ago. This bill is causing much anxiety amongst both the IT and the civil rights communities. The draconian amendments IT ministry has made to a previously drafted Pakistan Electronic Cybercrime bill that can see internet users imprisoned and fined for using any information system (laptop, computer, smartphone, etc) to share information that the government deems inappropriate, vulgar, or “against the glory of Islam”. Delicate negotiations between the stakeholders and the IT ministry as well as agencies took place over a long period of time, but finally everyone reached a consensus last year. The result was a strong, well-thought-out and well-researched bill that rightfully protected citizens from the malicious use of the internet, while preserving their freedom of expression with certain limitations necessary for safeguarding national interests. It is good step that would help to curb the wrong use of internets as number of cases has been reported related to cyber crime but due to absent of any law the culprits are roaming freely.
pakistan.shafaqna.com
