Pakistan’s cybercrime laws were introduced to protect users from online harassment and abuse, but have failed the most vulnerable. A study conducted by feminist researchers found that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and its 2025 amendments not only failed to protect women, transgender individuals, and religious minorities but also actively contributed to their digital persecution. Instead of shielding them from hate campaigns, these laws are selectively enforced to suppress dissent while enabling online abuse against marginalized groups. The FIA Cyber Crime Wing’s inaction, the Social Media Protection Authority’s (SMPA) overreach, and PECA 2025’s vague, punitive provisions have created a legal system protecting perpetrators rather than survivors.

PECA 2016 criminalizes online harassment, hate speech, doxxing, and privacy violations, yet protections remain unenforced for marginalized groups. Sections 18, 19, and 37 target dissidents and journalists but overlook digital hate campaigns against women, religious minorities, and trans persons. Though Section 18 outlaws doxxing, cases against women and trans activists are ignored by the FIA Cyber Crime Wing. Section 19 criminalizes online sexual harassment, yet feminist activists facing abuse struggle to take........

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