Experts call for social media regulation | The Express Tribune

The National Institute of Public Policy (NIPP) hosted a roundtable discussion on November 4, 2024, addressing the pressing need to regulate social media in Pakistan. The conference was initiated by Dean of NIPP Dr Naveed Elahi who underscored the importance of developing a comprehensive regulatory framework to tackle challenges such as misinformation and hate speech.

Rector NSPP, Dr Ijaz Munir welcomed attendees and highlighted the need for government alignment with regulatory bodies.

Research Associate at NIPP Dr Ali Abbas presented a research analysis highlighting the issues arising from unbridled social media, including its economic, social, and political consequences. He reviewed government policy responses for social media regulation and provided recommendations based on content analysis of newspaper articles. He also discussed global best practices to offer insights for improved social media regulation in Pakistan.

Dr Fareed Zafar emphasised the complexities of controlling social media algorithms, arguing that understanding these algorithms is crucial for effective regulation. He called for a focus on cybersecurity measures to protect users and the integrity of online information. Dr Taimur Rahman stressed the importance of media literacy, asserting that traditional regulatory methods may not be effective against the dynamic nature of digital communication.