Saturday, July 5, 2025
Digital Rights Monitor
  • DRM Exclusive
    • News
    • Court Updates
    • Features
    • Comment
    • Campaigns
      • #PrivacyHumSabKe
    • Vodcasts
  • In Media
    • News
    • OP-EDs
  • Editorial
  • Gender & Tech
    • SheConnects
  • Trends Monitor
  • Infographics
  • Resources
    • Laws and Policies
    • Research
    • International Frameworks
  • DRM Advocacy
    • Exclusives
    • Featured
    • Publications
    • Statements
No Result
View All Result
Digital Rights Monitor
  • DRM Exclusive
    • News
    • Court Updates
    • Features
    • Comment
    • Campaigns
      • #PrivacyHumSabKe
    • Vodcasts
  • In Media
    • News
    • OP-EDs
  • Editorial
  • Gender & Tech
    • SheConnects
  • Trends Monitor
  • Infographics
  • Resources
    • Laws and Policies
    • Research
    • International Frameworks
  • DRM Advocacy
    • Exclusives
    • Featured
    • Publications
    • Statements
No Result
View All Result
Digital Rights Monitor
No Result
View All Result

in DRM Exclusive, News

Policy finalised to curb disinformation around Covid-19 in media

Hija Kamranby Hija Kamran
July 17, 2020

July 17, 2020, Islamabad – The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) has formed a committee to monitor COVID-19 related misinformation on mainstream and online media. The committee, to be led by the Federal Minister of Interior Brigadier Ijaz Shah, has been tasked to draft a policy framework to counter misleading and false information about the virus. 

Committee members include representatives of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Inter-Services Public Rela­tions (ISPR), and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s cybercrime cell. The committee also includes PM’s focal person on digital media Dr Arslan Khalid, and PM’s focal person on Covid-19 Dr Faisal Sultan as “senior members”.

In its first meeting held on July 16th, 2020, the committee directed the members to stringently monitor mainstream and online media, and take strict actions against misinformation under section 10a: Cyber Terrorism of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.

FIA’s cybercrime wing director has been directed to closely monitor media, and take action against anyone spreading disinformation and misinformation around the virus. In addition, PEMRA’s director general was tasked to ensure that no false information was aired on electronic media.

The process 

Dawn reports that during the meeting, Shah said, “The primary purpose of this committee is to ensure that correct and credible information goes to our people,” adding that he would fully utilise the available resources to find people behind the spread of Covid-19 disinformation.

Dr. Arslan Khalid, the PM’s focal person on digital media, laid out the process of flagging misleading content on media. According to him, a focal person will flag the content with the assistance of ISPR and interior ministry, which will then be sent to the Ministry of Health where this content will be fact checked by health experts. If the content is determined to be false, then PTA and PEMRA will be directed to take action. 

“If the person responsible does not listen to PTA and remove the content, then the ministry of health can approach FIA with a written order under Section 10a of the cybercrime law for spreading panic,” the PM’s focal person told Dawn.

The content will be analysed against its potential to create a “sense of fear, panic or insecurity in the government or the public” as described under s.10a: cyber terrorism of PECA. 

Possible legal and rights violations 

Farieha Aziz, co-founder and director of Bolo Bhi, a digital rights organisation, tweeted that the application of s.10a is “strictly with respect to offences under Sections 6, 7, 8 & 9 of PECA only”. She further highlights that, “PTA’s authority (Under PECA) with respect to content is limited to the categories under Section 37. It cannot extend it beyond what the law allows though it has and does.”

So PTI's world is all about an all-powerful, unaccountable executive that selectively disregards other organs of the state & what the Constitution says about separation of powers, delegation of lawful authority, and how law and policy-making is to be done. https://t.co/rPVEe6NfAa

— Farieha Aziz (@FariehaAziz) July 17, 2020

As per an agreement between the government and Facebook, the most popular social media platform in Pakistan, content that “contravened the guidelines issued by the federal and provincial governments is being removed from Facebook’s platforms for violation of its policy”. 

Sadaf Khan, co-founder and Director Programs of Media Matters for Democracy, says, “We have already seen examples of how such laws and policies are playing out in different parts of the world. In Bangladesh for example, journalists and cartoonists have been arrested on similar charges.” She adds, “The government also seems divorced from the fact that the level of digital media information literacy in Pakistan is very low. The majority of citizens on Facebook, Twitter and other digital platforms, simply don’t have the technical skill and capacity to determine what is factually correct and what is not. To threaten all Internet users with possible criminal charges is ill advised. It would have been better to inform and educate the government’s own representatives about creating a factual narrative on coronavirus.”

The government and spread of misinformation 

There have been multiple instances, where government officials and representatives have engaged in spreading misinformation on the media and online. 

Government officials have been found to quote misleading information on both mainstream and online media. For instance, PM Imran Khan in one of his live addresses in March, said, “If you get coronavirus, you will soon recover because it’s just like the flu.”

The amount of disinformation & confusion about covid-19 being spread by the PTI is so much that I need a thread to keep track.

1/ Let's start from the top with Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI :

Coronavirus is like the fluhttps://t.co/eTC6Gri4pF

— Fahad Desmukh (@desmukh) June 3, 2020

A day after the PM’s address, on March 23, the former Minister of Information Firdous Ashiq Awan, in one of the press conferences, said, “coronavirus is dangerous, but not deadly”.

3/ Information Minister (at the time) @Dr_FirdousPTI:

"Coronavirus is dangerous but not deadly"https://t.co/KoyuUKh8Os

— Fahad Desmukh (@desmukh) June 3, 2020

Governor Punjab, Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, in his press conference on March 20, said, “if you keep drinking hot water at regular intervals, the virus goes to your stomach instead of your lungs where it is then killed.”

4/ Governor of Punjab @ChMSarwar:

"Drinking hot water at regular intervals will redirect the virus from your lungs to your stomach where it will be killed"https://t.co/0O24G1TSVe

— Fahad Desmukh (@desmukh) June 3, 2020

President of PTI Karachi and MNA, Khurram Sher Zaman, said in a press conference on May 9, “the Sindh government is falsely exaggerating COVID-19 figures. When we go to the hospitals, we learn there’s no coronavirus patients there.”

7/ MPA and president of PTI Karachi (who has been leading the crusade against a lockdown in Sindh) @KhurrumZamanPTI:

"The Sindh govt is falsely exaggerating figures. When we visit the hospitals we learn that there are no coronavirus patients there"https://t.co/K8UzxxNIoC pic.twitter.com/SRsYGGqyhG

— Fahad Desmukh (@desmukh) June 3, 2020

Zaman, in a talk show, also said, that the type of coronavirus that we have in Pakistan is of “Category C” which is the weakest type of coronavirus, unlike what Italy or New York has.

8/ More from @KhurrumZamanPTI:

Pakistan has "Type C" coronavirus
https://t.co/jGd2BuU9cp

— Fahad Desmukh (@desmukh) June 3, 2020

Talking to DRM about the misinformation that is propagated by government officials on media, Dr. Arslan Khalid said, “If government officials or any political leaders say anything which falls in this disinformation category, that official will be called in for explanation and not media.” Referring to Khurram Sher Zaman’s statement about Sindh government exaggerating COVID-19 patients’ figure, Dr. Arslan said, “This is disinformation and falls in the category where actions are necessary and will be taken in future.”

Asad Baig, co-founder and director of Media Matters for Democracy, says in a tweet, “Large part of Covid-19 disinfo is being perpetrated by govt officials &/or ruling party leaders. Instead of taking extreme steps maybe start by fact-checking the disinfo spread by people in political roles?”

Same in Pakistan. Large part of Covid-19 disinfo is being perpetrated by govt officials &/or ruling party leaders. Instead of taking extreme steps maybe start by fact-checking the disinfo spread by people in political roles?

Here's a thread on that: https://t.co/Lqp6kV2Oni

— asad beyg (@asadbeyg) July 17, 2020
Tags: coronavirus disinformationcovid-19disinformationFreedom of Expression in PakistanmisinformationPakistan
Previous Post

Govt finalises policy to check Covid-19 disinformation

Next Post

PTA blocks Bigo Live in Pakistan, issues warning to TikTok

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Microsoft slashes 6,000 jobs, trimming 3% of its global workforce in major shake-up.

Microsoft to Slash 9,000 Jobs Amid AI Shift

July 3, 2025
As AI Enters Newsrooms, MMfD Launches ‘Sahafat.AI’ to Put Journalists in Control

As AI Enters Newsrooms, MMfD Launches ‘Sahafat.AI’ to Put Journalists in Control

June 30, 2025
IRAN: Ban on WhatsApp, Google Play lifted

National CERT Issues Warning Over WhatsApp Phishing Surge

June 18, 2025
No Content Available

Next Post

PTA blocks Bigo Live in Pakistan, issues warning to TikTok

About Digital Rights Monitor

This website reports on digital rights and internet governance issues in Pakistan and collates related resources and publications. The site is a part of Media Matters for Democracy’s Report Digital Rights initiative that aims to improve reporting on digital rights issues through engagement with media outlets and journalists.

About Media Matters for Democracy

Media Matters for Democracy is a Pakistan based not-for-profit geared towards independent journalism and media and digital rights advocacy. Founded by a group of journalists, MMfD works for innovation in media and journalism through the use of technology, research, and advocacy on media and internet related issues. MMfD works to ensure that expression and information rights and freedoms are protected in Pakistan.

Follow Us on Twitter

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • DRM Exclusive
    • News
    • Court Updates
    • Features
    • Comment
    • Campaigns
      • #PrivacyHumSabKe
    • Vodcasts
  • In Media
    • News
    • OP-EDs
  • Editorial
  • Gender & Tech
    • SheConnects
  • Trends Monitor
  • Infographics
  • Resources
    • Laws and Policies
    • Research
    • International Frameworks
  • DRM Advocacy
    • Exclusives
    • Featured
    • Publications
    • Statements