Pakistani journalists, digital rights advocates, and civil society have long been waging a war against the PECA law, which was originally passed in 2016 to combat cybercrime.
FIRs have been filed against journalist Ahmad Noorani & advocate Shafiq Ahmad under amended Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act for spreading fake news & promoting anti-state propaganda.
Journalists and digital rights activists have strongly condemned the amendments. The common refrain is that this is an ‘attack on freedom of expression’ and a ‘digital dragnet’.
This government has been determined to muzzle free speech, and it is clear that as it nears the end of its term, efforts to solidify this legacy are picking up pace.
We now live in a world order that will keep shifting. India must use this window. This also means we remain disciplined enough not to be knee-jerked into reacting to what Pakistan sees as its moment in the sun.
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