Pakistan’s Cybercrime Law is Failing Women Journalists

When Pakistan’s parliament passed the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in 2016, it was presented as a tool to safeguard citizens, particularly women, from online harassment and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Nearly a decade later, however, it has become increasingly clear that the law has done the opposite—empowering perpetrators and institutions to silence women journalists instead of protecting them.

TFGBV, as defined by the United Nations Population Fund, refers to acts of violence that are committed or amplified through digital platforms against a person based on gender. These include cyberstalking, online hate speech, defamation, doxing, and threats of sexual assault. Women, especially women journalists, are disproportionately affected. Globally, 73 percent of women journalists report experiencing TFGBV, a figure that reflects the scale of the problem in Pakistan as well.

For the country’s small community of women journalists—who make up only about five percent of the press—the risks are immense. Operating within a deeply patriarchal society and one of the world’s most dangerous environments for journalists, women in media face harassment that is uniquely gendered and often violent. Unlike male reporters, whose criticism is typically centered on political views, women are targeted for their bodies, sexuality, and appearance.

Pakistani television anchor Gharidah Farooqi once described the abuse she faced as rape and death threats, along with doctored pornographic images circulated online to damage her reputation. Journalist Ramsha Jahangir recalled how coordinated online harassment campaigns forced her to stop sharing her reporting because of constant threats and false accusations of political bias. These experiences are not isolated—they mirror what many women journalists endure simply for doing their jobs.

Instead of addressing such abuse, PECA has been used to restrict press freedom. The vague and loosely defined language of the law enables authorities to weaponize it against journalists critical of the government or military. Both male and female reporters have been arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency for allegedly spreading “fake news,” but women face a dual threat: official targeting followed by waves of gendered online attacks.

Geo News journalist Benazir Shah explained how this pattern unfolds: first, officials publicly accuse women journalists of spreading disinformation or acting against the state, and then supporters of ruling parties flood their social media with vitriol, harassment, and threats. The state’s endorsement of such harassment emboldens abusers and leaves women with little recourse.

The situation has worsened with the latest amendments to PECA, introduced earlier this year. By criminalizing the dissemination of so-called “fake news”—without defining what qualifies as fake—the law now risks punishing women journalists for speaking publicly about the online violence they endure. Under these provisions, survivors of TFGBV could be reported by their abusers for “spreading false information” and, if convicted, face up to three years in prison.

This chilling effect discourages women from reporting or documenting the violence they face. Many already remain silent out of fear of retaliation; now, the legal framework threatens to erase their voices altogether. Without documentation or visibility, TFGBV thrives unchecked, and perpetrators remain unaccountable.

The failure of PECA lies not only in its misuse but in its fundamental design. From the outset, the law has been criticized as a tool to silence dissent rather than protect vulnerable groups. By prioritizing state control over digital spaces instead of safeguarding citizens, the government has effectively enabled the very violence it claimed to fight.

For meaningful change, major reforms are urgently needed. A robust cybercrime framework must be created to directly address TFGBV, with clear definitions, survivor-centered protections, and accountability mechanisms for perpetrators. At the same time, press freedom must be upheld, ensuring that women journalists can carry out their work without the constant threat of harassment or imprisonment.

Pakistan’s women journalists deserve more than promises of protection—they deserve a system that allows them to speak truth to power without fearing for their safety or their freedom. Until PECA is reformed to reflect that reality, the law will continue to be part of the problem rather than the solution.