Information Minister Attaullah Tarar calls for mandatory AI content labels, digital education and stronger institutional coordination to address misinformation and growing cyber threats in Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has called for stronger digital literacy, public awareness and cybersecurity measures to combat misinformation, fake news and the growing misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in Pakistan.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, Tarar said digital literacy should be incorporated into the national education curriculum to help people identify misleading information, distinguish authentic content from fabricated material and use online platforms responsibly.
The minister stressed that AI-generated content should carry mandatory labels to make it easier for users to distinguish artificially created material from authentic information. He also highlighted the challenges posed by deepfakes and other AI-generated content, warning about their potential misuse.
As part of efforts to strengthen the country’s response to online misinformation, Tarar proposed establishing a National Cyber Security and Social Media Awareness Council. The proposed body would help improve public understanding of digital threats and strengthen coordination among relevant institutions.
He said addressing cybercrime and the misuse of social media required continuous efforts, coordinated strategies and greater awareness among internet users.
The minister also emphasised the importance of educating children about social media risks and teaching them how to protect themselves from unsafe online activities. He said digital education at an early age could help young users recognise potential online dangers and adopt responsible internet practices.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to strengthen digital communication, Tarar said the Ministry of Information had established a Digital Communication Department to improve its communication capabilities and digital outreach.
He further announced that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had started functioning. According to the minister, the agency would also support the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in addressing cyber-related challenges.
Tarar’s remarks come amid growing concerns about the spread of fabricated information, manipulated videos and misleading content across digital platforms. The increasing use of AI tools has added to these challenges by making it easier to produce realistic-looking images, videos and other material that can mislead online audiences.
The minister said improving public awareness, strengthening digital education and enhancing institutional coordination were essential to addressing misinformation, cyber threats and the growing influence of artificial intelligence.
His proposed measures include incorporating digital literacy into the national curriculum, introducing mandatory labels for AI-generated content and establishing a dedicated council to promote cybersecurity and social media awareness.
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