The Pakistan government has introduced a new cyber-crime law that could see social-media users jailed for up to five years for posting fake news about the military, judiciary or public officials. Spreading false or fake news is indeed a bad thing. It damages a lot at any level.  

It definitely harms the society, individuals or institutions. Before the advent of social media, fake news did not have the speed to travel farther that’s why it survived without damaging much in the past. But now social media, which travels at the speed of light, travels faster and farther (“Tough penalties for spreading fake news as media law changed,” Feb.21, Gulf Today).

A section of politicians and journalists are upset about it. But fake news should be stopped and those who promote it should be aware of its consequences.

Those who feel that modified ordinance is a curb on their freedom don’t know the meaning of freedom.  Sharing news if very good, but spreading false and baseless information is damaging. We should refrain from doing this.

Tarique Azeem,
By email