Authority
The Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority.
How the laws define this
Each instrument defines an authority as a legally established statutory regulator or corporate body empowered to enforce compliance and issue or make subordinate regulations. Where these laws diverge is in the specific sectoral responsibilities and regulatory tools granted to each entity. Under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, the authority focuses on social media oversight, handling complaints, issuing removal and blocking orders, and mandating platform registration and representation. In contrast, the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (Amendment) Act, Act No. XIX of 2024 assigns powers centered on digital innovation, including issuing recognitions, conducting conformity assessments, and performing market surveillance. Meanwhile, the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025 establishes an authority tasked with broader digital management, empowering it to draft the National Digital Masterplan, set technical standards and interoperability rules for DPI, accredit service providers, and manage the Digital Nation Fund.
Synthesised from the 3 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.
How jurisdictions differ
What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first.
| Jurisdiction | Instrument | Status | What is distinctive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 | In Force | Focuses on social media regulation, empowering it to handle complaints, issue content removal and blocking orders, and require platform registration and local representation. |
| Malta | Malta Digital Innovation Authority (Amendment) Act, Act No. XIX of 2024 | In Force | Covers digital innovation including AI systems, with powers for issuing recognitions, conducting conformity assessments, market surveillance, and enforcing compliance. |
| Pakistan | Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025 | In Force | Establishes a corporate body for national digital transformation, tasked with implementing a masterplan, issuing standards, accrediting providers, and managing a digital fund. |
What it triggers
- In Pakistan under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, the Authority receives complaints, issues removal and blocking orders, requires platform registration and representation, sets procedures, and makes regulations.source
- Under the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (Amendment) Act, Act No. XIX of 2024, the Authority issues recognitions, conducts conformity assessments, performs market surveillance, and enforces compliance.source
- Under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025, the Authority drafts and implements the National Digital Masterplan, issues technical standards and interoperability rules, accredits service providers, manages the Digital Nation Fund, and enforces regulations.source
Definitions (3)
The Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority established under the Amendment (defined as the 'Authority' in section 2A), a statutory regulator empowered to receive complaints, issue removal and blocking orders, require platform registration and representation, set procedures, and make subordinate regulations under section 51A.
The Malta Digital Innovation Authority established and defined by the Act, including its institutional functions, powers, staff arrangements and remit to issue recognitions, conduct conformity assessments, perform market surveillance and enforce compliance.
The Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) is the statutory corporate body established by the Act, empowered to draft and implement the National Digital Masterplan, issue technical standards and interoperability rules for DPI, accredit service providers, manage the Digital Nation Fund, and enforce subordinate regulations under the Act.
Not to be confused with
The Social Media Protection Tribunal handles appeals and adjudication of Authority orders, while Authority issues the initial orders.
Service providers or intermediaries are entities regulated by the Authority through registration and compliance requirements, not the regulatory body itself.
Questions and answers
What powers does the Authority have under Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Amendment Act?
It receives complaints, issues removal and blocking orders, requires platform registration and representation, sets procedures, and makes subordinate regulations. This applies to social media platforms.
What is the role of Malta's Digital Innovation Authority?
It issues recognitions, conducts conformity assessments for innovative digital technologies including AI, performs market surveillance, and enforces compliance.
What does Pakistan's Digital Authority oversee?
It implements the National Digital Masterplan, issues standards and rules for digital public infrastructure, accredits providers, manages the Digital Nation Fund, and enforces regulations.
Related Terms
Social Media Protection Tribunal (SMPT)
Specialist tribunal for appeals and adjudication of Authority orders....
digital security agency/council
Designated national body for coordinating digital security and enforcement....
Online Safety Commission (OSC)
Statutory body administering online-safety relief and oversight....
Digital security agency / council
Designated national body responsible for digital security governance and enforcement....
Service provider / intermediary
Entities that host, transmit, store or provide access to digital content or services....