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Islamabad: The lower house of Pakistan’s parliament on Thursday passed a new law that envisages three years in jail for spreading disinformation on social media in a move critics called suppression of free speech.
The lawmakers in the National Assembly passed the government-generated law called the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act amid a boycott by the party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
The new law empowers government agencies to imprison any individual for up to three years for spreading fake news through any of the several social media platforms.
It also authorizes the government to impose up to 2 million rupees ($7,168) in fines for spreading disinformation. (DPA)
