Petition Filed in IHC Seeking Social Media Ban for Children Under 16
Constitutional petition seeks mandatory age verification, parental controls and a dedicated child online-safety framework, citing cyberbullying, exploitation and harmful digital content.
ISLAMABAD: A constitutional petition has been filed before the Islamabad High Court seeking restrictions on the use of social media by children under the age of 16 and the introduction of an effective age-verification mechanism for online platforms.
Petitioner Seeks Age Verification Framework
According to the petition details provided, petitioner Waqas Nasir has approached the IHC through Advocates Yahya Farid Khawaja and Jalal Haider Malik, asking the court to direct the federal government and relevant regulators to develop a comprehensive framework for protecting children in the digital environment.
The petition seeks measures aimed at preventing children below 16 from operating social media accounts, including an effective mechanism for verifying users’ ages.
Petition Highlights Online Risks to Children
It argues that minors face a range of risks online, including cyberbullying, harassment, exploitation, privacy violations and exposure to harmful or inappropriate content. The petition calls for legislation specifically addressing these risks and defining the responsibilities of social media companies operating in Pakistan.
According to the petition, the proposed regulatory framework should also incorporate parental-control mechanisms and establish clear obligations for digital platforms to protect younger users.
International Laws Cited
The petitioner has reportedly cited laws, policies and initiatives adopted or considered in Australia, France, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Spain and other European jurisdictions as comparative examples for Pakistan.
The petition also invokes the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and General Comment No. 25, which addresses children’s rights in relation to the digital environment.
It argues that protecting children’s best interests, privacy, safety and digital rights forms part of the State’s constitutional and legal responsibilities.
Directions Sought From Authorities
The IHC has been requested to issue directions to the federal government, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and other relevant bodies for appropriate legislation and the establishment of a dedicated child online-safety regulatory mechanism.
Earlier IHC Proceedings on Under-16 Access
The latest move comes amid a broader debate in Pakistan over minors’ access to social media. In a separate case earlier this year, the Islamabad High Court sought information from federal authorities on measures for regulating social media access for children under 16, including age-verification arrangements and enforcement mechanisms.
No final determination on the merits of the newly reported petition should be inferred merely from its filing. Any restriction or regulatory regime would depend on subsequent judicial proceedings and/or action by the competent legislative and regulatory authorities.
The earlier IHC proceedings are independently documented: Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir sought information on age verification, enforcement and the proposed regulatory framework in February. Separately, debate has also taken place in Parliament and the Punjab Assembly, while no nationwide under-16 social-media ban is currently reported to be in force.
