ISLAMABAD, 26 JULY (DNA) – Senate IT Committee met Tuesday and approved the controversial Pakistan Electronic Crimes Bill (PECB) 2016 with “significant amendments”.

According to Bytes for All, Pakistan, a human rights organization focused on information and communication technologies, Senator Farhatullah Babar said Senate IT Committee has proposed “significant amendments” in the controversial Pakistan Electronic Crimes Bill 2016. If these suggestions are accepted by the Senate, the bill will be sent back to the National Assembly for reworking.

Some salient features of the bill include: Up to seven years imprisonment, Rs.10 million fine or both for hate speech, or trying to create disputes and spread hatred on the basis of religion or sectarianism.

Up to three years imprisonment and Rs. 0.5 million fine or both for cheating others through internet; Up to five year imprisonment, Rs. 5 million fine or both for transferring or copying of sensitive basic information.

Up to seven years imprisonment and Rs0.5 million fine or both for uploading obscene photos of children; Up to Rs.50 thousand fine for sending messages irritating to others or for marketing purposes.

If the crime is repeated, the punishment would be three months imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs1 million; Up to three year imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs0.5 million for creating a website for negative purposes.

Up to one year imprisonment or a fine of up to Rs1 million for forcing an individual for immoral activity, or publishing an individual’s picture without consent, sending obscene messages or unnecessary cyber interference; Up to seven year imprisonment, a fine of Rs10 million or both for interfering in sensitive data information systems.

Three month imprisonment or a Rs50 thousand fine or both for accessing unauthorised data; Three year imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs5 million for obtaining information about an individual’s identification, selling the information or retaining it with self.

Up to three year imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs. 0.5 million for issuing a SIM card in an unauthorised manner; Up to three year imprisonment and fine of up to Rs. 1 million rupees for making changes in a wireless set or a cell phone; Up to three year imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs. 1 million for spreading misinformation about an individual; and Up to three years imprisonment and fine of up to Rs. 1 million for misusing internet.

The bill was passed by the NA standing committee on IT in 2015, while it was approved by the lower house of the parliament on April 13 this year. DNA