The Framework

Pakistan’s 2025 amendment to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act represents a significant expansion of government control over digital content. The legislation creates a new Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA) with sweeping powers to monitor, regulate, and remove content deemed unlawful or offensive on social media platforms.[1] The amendment also introduces criminal penalties of up to three years imprisonment and fines of up to 2 million rupees (approximately $7,150) for individuals who disseminate information considered “false” or “fake” that could cause fear, panic, or unrest.[2]

Implications for U.S. Technology LEADERSHIP

Pakistan’s PECA Amendment 2025 imposes expansive regulatory and legal requirements that significantly raise operational costs and risks for U.S. technology firms. The mandate to register locally, appoint in-country representatives, and comply with broad and vaguely defined content takedown orders—under threat of bans or criminal penalties—creates a restrictive environment that undermines service continuity, business planning, and long-term investment. These burdens reduce the viability of U.S. platforms in a strategically important market and complicate their ability to maintain consistent global standards.

At the same time, the legislation strengthens conditions for Chinese tech firms that are already accustomed to operating within state-driven regulatory environments. By making the market less accessible to U.S. companies, Pakistan’s approach shifts the regional digital balance, eroding the comparative position of U.S. firms and limiting their role in shaping digital norms across South Asia. As more countries consider similar frameworks, this model risks undercutting U.S. technological competitiveness and narrowing the global operating space for open-platform companies.

Endnotes