A new bill introduced in Pakistan’s Senate on Monday proposes setting a minimum age of 16 for social media users. This legislation aims to make social media companies responsible for restricting access to underage individuals.

Under the proposed law, platforms that allow users under 16 to create accounts could face significant fines, ranging from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 5 million.

The bill also introduces stringent penalties for those who help minors circumvent these age restrictions. Anyone found facilitating the creation of social media accounts for underage users could face up to six months in prison and a fine within the same Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 5 million range.

To ensure compliance, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) would be granted the authority to block accounts of underage users and implement measures to prevent new account creation by minors.