Pakistan to launch wide crackdown on fake news, interior minister says

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday the government will launch a sweeping crackdown on online disinformation, warning that authorities will no longer allow individuals to spread false news or nationwide panic under the guise of journalism.

Speaking at a press briefing in Islamabad, Naqvi said freedom of expression and criticism must be protected, but claimed that in recent weeks “90% of news on social media is false.”

He said complaints about fabricated content could be lodged with the media regulator, PEMRA, but noted that unlike traditional newsrooms - where reporters answer to editors - social media allows anyone to post images and commentary “without any accountability for facts”.

Naqvi said the government had observed cases where online posts falsely declared people dead or circulated baseless allegations. “This is not acceptable,” he said, adding that the Information Ministry and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) would jointly lead the crackdown.

“We will not allow you to spread fake news, spread panic across the country, remain scot-free and then take cover of journalism. This cannot happen.”

He said he had discussed the matter with the information minister and insisted the government supported free expression. However, he said individuals making allegations would be required to provide evidence and those responsible for fabricating news would face consequences.

“Only those working within a system of checks, balances and editorial oversight are considered journalists,” he added.

'Vloggers, podcasters must be held accountable'

Naqvi stressed that vloggers, podcasters and other digital content creators must also be held accountable. “Those spreading fake news are not journalists for us,” he said. “This cannot continue, where different kinds of panics are spread in the country every other day.”

He said that within the professional media, journalists who file incorrect reports are answerable to their peers and editors and similar responsibility must apply across digital platforms. “Journalists and freedom of expression are important to us, but spreading fake news will not be allowed,” he said.

Asked whether the government planned to create a new regulatory body for the initiative, Naqvi said he believed such an authority “is already being established.”