Asia internet body voices concerns over new bills

Says global companies re-evaluating willingness to operate in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD:

A multinational industry body that works on internet policy issues across the Asia-Pacific has raised serious concerns over the upcoming tabling of the Personal Data Protection Bill and E-safety Authority Bill and called for taking stakeholders on board while framing such legislation.

It has also expressed deep concerns over proposed amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguard) Rules.

In a letter sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) Managing Director Baire Jeff Paine said that amidst the prevailing economic challenges confronting the nation, “it is imperative that economic recovery, policy certainty, and predictability be prioritised to foster investor trust and commitment to Pakistan.”

Regrettably, he said, the AIC members found cause for significant concern in the opaque process through which laws were set to be passed in Pakistan.

The association pointed out that the initial reassurances of extensive and broad-based consultation, particularly from the minister of law and justice, minister of information technology and telecommunication, foreign minister, and special assistant to the prime minister did not materialise.

Despite promises of forward-looking governance and willingness to address stakeholders’ concerns, “the actual consultation process has proven neither credible nor transparent. This has completely eroded investor trust as they grapple with significant legislative uncertainty.”

The association cautioned that the speed with which the legislations were being rushed was causing international companies to re-evaluate their willingness to operate in the country.

“AIC strongly believes in the potential for multi-stakeholder dialogue to shape policies and legislation to foster innovation and technological advancement,” it said and voiced fear that the proposed legislation would severely cripple the growth of Pakistan’s digital economy.

According to the association, the legislation and rules in the current form will make it difficult for the AIC members to make their services available to Pakistani users and businesses.

The multinational industry body pointed out that in its current state, Pakistan risked becoming a global outlier, isolating and depriving the country’s users and businesses of the growth potential of the internet economy.

To fulfill the vision of a dynamic digital economic ecosystem and to ensure that Pakistan becomes a lucrative destination for technology investment and achieves its digital transformation objectives, it called upon the government to collaborate with the industry in establishing practical and transparent regulations that preserved the advantages of the internet while balancing the interest of the country.

“Together, we can foster an environment that encourages innovation, investment, and progress in the digital landscape, benefitting both the nation and its citizens,” it said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2023.

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