IHC petition seeks regulation of social media use by under-16 children

ISLAMABAD: A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday seeking regulation of the social media use by under-16 children.

Petition filed by lawyers Muhammad Jalal Haider and Yahya Farid Khawaja pleaded to the court for an authentic age verification system for social media accounts users.

Petitioners also requested a court order for legislation protecting children from cyber bullying, online harassment and safety from hazardous online material.

Petitioners have referred the legislation in Australia for under-16 children and a copy of the Australian law with regard to ban on under-16 for social media use also produced in the court.

Meanwhile, France’s legislation of the requirement of parent’s consent for social media accounts of the under-15 children also quoted.

Moreover, UK’s child safety measures under the Online Safety Act 2023 and proposed legislation in New Zealand and Spain also been referred in the plea.

Petitioners presented a comparative example of age verification measures in European countries.

According to the plea, an international trend exists for the protection of children in legislation of different countries.

The court was pleaded for devising an effective mechanism for the parent’s control and protection of children from the hazardous online material.

Petitioners requested to the court to give special responsibilities to social media platforms for protection of children.

“It is constitutional and legal responsibility of the state to protect the best interest of children”.

The petitioners have made the ministries of Information Technology, Information, Interior, Law, the PTA and PEMRA as parties in the case.