The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a stern warning to individuals involved in sharing unlawful content on social media platforms. In an official statement, the PTA urged users to avoid posting or promoting content that violates the law. The authority emphasized that while freedom of expression is a constitutional right, its misuse to spread illegal material or engage in prohibited online activities will not be tolerated. PTA highlighted that sharing content deemed blasphemous, disrespectful to religions, prophets, or sacred personalities, inciting violence, spreading hate or disinformation against national institutions, or circulating obscene, immoral material and fake news, is a criminal offense under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and is subject to legal action. PTA urged citizens to report such content through the PTA CMS mobile app in the interest of public safety and national peace. The public is advised: “Be alert, stay safe.” Additionally, the PTA recently issued another advisory, warning users to stay vigilant against suspicious messages sent in the name of courier companies, which often involve fake verification codes. PTA also cautioned that fraudsters posing as courier service representatives are sending deceptive messages to extract personal and sensitive information from users, often under the pretense of payment or parcel delivery. These messages may request users to share verification codes, click on suspicious links, or receive fraudulent calls intended to gain unauthorized access to their accounts. PTA asserted that such messages are fake and have no affiliation with any legitimate courier service or official institution. It urged users not to share verification codes with anyone and to ignore unsolicited messages or calls requesting personal details.
PTA issues warning over sharing of illegal content online
