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ISLAMABAD: A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday seeking regulation of the social media use by under-16 children.<\/strong><\/p>\n Petition filed by lawyers Muhammad Jalal Haider and Yahya Farid Khawaja pleaded to the court for an authentic age verification system for social media accounts users.<\/p>\n Petitioners also requested a court order for legislation protecting children from cyber bullying, online harassment and safety from hazardous online material.<\/p>\n Petitioners have referred the legislation in Australia for under-16 children and a copy of the Australian law with regard to ban on under-16 for social media use also produced in the court.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, France\u2019s legislation of the requirement of parent\u2019s consent for social media accounts of the under-15 children also quoted.<\/p>\n Moreover, UK\u2019s child safety measures under the Online Safety Act 2023 and proposed legislation in New Zealand and Spain also been referred in the plea.<\/p>\n Petitioners presented a comparative example of age verification measures in European countries.<\/p>\n According to the plea, an international trend exists for the protection of children in legislation of different countries.<\/p>\n The court was pleaded for devising an effective mechanism for the parent\u2019s control and protection of children from the hazardous online material.<\/p>\n Petitioners requested to the court to give special responsibilities to social media platforms for protection of children.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is constitutional and legal responsibility of the state to protect the best interest of children\u201d.<\/p>\n The petitioners have made the ministries of Information Technology, Information, Interior, Law, the PTA and PEMRA as parties in the case.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n