Islamabad

Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology has taken notice of alleged non-cooperation by major social media platforms with national security and law enforcement agencies, summoning key officials for urgent briefings.

Platforms Under Scrutiny

The committee is set to review the role of Meta platforms—Facebook and Instagram—alongside YouTube, over concerns that they are not providing required data for cybercrime investigations.

Officials say the lack of cooperation is hindering efforts to combat online fraud, impersonation, and digital crimes.

Government Seeks Immediate Briefing

The committee has called for a detailed briefing from the Ministry of Interior and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on:

• Data-sharing challenges with global platforms
• Legal and policy frameworks for cooperation
• Future strategy to ensure compliance

Legal and Policy Concerns

Lawmakers are also expected to examine whether community guidelines of global platforms conflict with Pakistani laws, particularly in cases involving sensitive content and national security.

Another key issue under discussion will be why these companies have not established local offices in Pakistan, which officials believe could improve coordination.

Broader Cybersecurity Challenges

Authorities say delays or refusals in data-sharing by platforms can slow down criminal investigations, especially in cases involving impersonation scams and digital fraud.

The committee is expected to explore new mechanisms to secure timely access to data for security purposes.

Additional Agenda Items

The meeting will also review a recent case involving the removal of a post by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on X, with officials set to brief lawmakers on the circumstances behind the action.

Growing Regulatory Pressure

Analysts say the development reflects increasing pressure worldwide on tech giants to comply with local laws while balancing global content policies.

The outcome of the meeting could shape Pakistan’s future approach toward regulating digital platforms and strengthening cybercrime enforcement frameworks.