The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has informed the Islamabad High Court that it lacks legal authority to ban children under 16 from using social media. The regulator also said it cannot make age verification mandatory across digital platforms under existing laws.
The statement was submitted in a report concerning Writ Petition No. 4163 of 2026. The report explains the limits of the authority’s powers under Pakistan’s current legal framework.
The PTA clarified that Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, allows it to block or remove unlawful online content on specific legal grounds. However, this provision does not authorize the regulator to establish a minimum age for social media users.
Similarly, the existing law does not give the authority the power to introduce a universal age-verification system for all social media platforms.
PTA Calls for a Separate Legal Framework
According to the report, introducing mandatory age verification would require a separate legal and regulatory framework. Such a framework would need to establish clear rules for social media platforms and relevant authorities.
It would also need to define how users’ ages should be verified. The rules would have to specify who is responsible for checking users’ ages and how their information should be handled.
Privacy protection would also be an important part of the proposed system. The framework would need safeguards for identity information and clear requirements for platforms.
Furthermore, the system would require provisions for compliance checks, audits and penalties. These measures would help establish accountability for platforms operating under the new requirements.
The PTA maintained that it cannot introduce these obligations through an administrative order alone. It said specific legal authority would be necessary before implementing such measures.
Foreign Age Restrictions Do Not Apply Automatically
The regulator also referred to age restrictions adopted in other countries. Australia and the European Union have introduced measures concerning children’s access to social media under their respective legal frameworks.
However, the PTA explained that these foreign laws do not automatically grant similar powers to Pakistani authorities. Any comparable restrictions in Pakistan would need to follow the country’s own legal process.
This means that setting 16 as the minimum age for social media use would require explicit legislation. The same requirement would apply to establishing a universal age database or making age verification compulsory across platforms.
What Can PTA Do Under Existing Laws?
Despite these legal limitations, the PTA can continue performing its existing regulatory duties. These include processing complaints about online content and reviewing material reported to the authority.
The regulator can also coordinate with social media platforms when addressing complaints. It may take blocking action against unlawful content where existing laws permit such measures.
However, these powers do not extend to imposing a blanket age restriction on social media users. The authority’s report distinguishes its existing content-regulation responsibilities from broader rules governing children’s access to digital platforms.
The matter highlights the legal requirements for introducing nationwide social media age restrictions in Pakistan. Any such policy would need clear legislative backing and defined procedures for implementation.
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Until the necessary legal framework is established, the PTA says it cannot independently impose a minimum social media age of 16 or mandatory age verification across platforms.
