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November 29, 2024 - Comments Off on Mobile Phone and internet disruptions Reported

Mobile Phone and internet disruptions Reported

Pakistan witnessed another round of mobile phone and internet disruptions. On 10 October, users of Zong cellular company faced disruptions to their mobile and data services in multiple cities, mostly in Karachi, reportedly owing to Web Management System/Firewall. Zong is one of the four cellular companies in Pakistan with a userbase of 26%. PTA officials confirmed that the firewall or the web management system was currently being installed and would be fully functional by end of October. Separately, internet and mobile data services were suspended in Peshawar and Khyber in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province amid a planned gathering of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement on 11-13 October to discuss local political, security and human rights situation faced by citizens. While the gathering concluded on 13 October, PTM claimed on 14 October that the mobile signals remained suspended in Peshawar and Khyber.

November 29, 2024 - Comments Off on Death penalty for online blasphemy

Death penalty for online blasphemy

A cybercrime court awarded death penalty and imposed a fine of USD 2500 (PKR 700,000) to a resident of Gujjar Khan, Punjab after he was found guilty of hatespeech and blasphemy under Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act and Pakistan Penal Code. The convict will now have the option to challenge the verdict in High Court. Lower courts in Pakistan have a track record of awarding highest punishments to blasphemy accused.

November 29, 2024 - Comments Off on Internet shutdown reported amid opposition protests

Internet shutdown reported amid opposition protests

Mobile phone and internet services remained suspended for nearly 50 hours between 04-07 October in Islamabad/Rawalpindi amid opposition party PTI’s protest rallies. There were unconfirmed reports of partial disruptions of internet and social media apps in Lahore and Karachi.

Hundreds of PTI workers gathered in Islamabad over the weekend demanding release of their incarcerated leader Imran Khan. However, the government blocked entry points of Islamabad ahead of the protests to prevent them from entering the city. Clashes were also reported between PTI workers and law enforcement authorities resulting in injuries to 80 police officers and arrests of PTI workers. There were also speculations of PTI leader and KP Chief Minister’s Ali Amin Gandapur’s detention after he arrived in Islamabad with a convoy of 800 PTI activists from Peshawar to join the protest. Later, he mysteriously resurfaced in Peshawar after 31 hours denying any kidnapping or arrest by local authorities.

November 26, 2024 - Comments Off on Pakistan’s “Great Wall”: Chinese-made internet firewall worth USD 72 million deployed by Pakistan, Al-Jazeera

Pakistan’s “Great Wall”: Chinese-made internet firewall worth USD 72 million deployed by Pakistan, Al-Jazeera

Al Jazeera reported on Pakistan’s development and planned implementation of its internet “firewall”, in an attempt to regulate and monitor the internet activities of users across Pakistan. Internet slowdowns and disruptions across Pakistan since July of this year have been attributed to trial runs of the firewall, though the Pakistani government has officially denied this being the case, instead blaming a number of factors, including underwater internet cables and “too many” people using VPNs within Pakistan.

Pakistan’s current attempt at a firewall incorporates Chinese technology (at a cost of 20-30 billion Pakistani rupees – or between US$ 72 to US$ 107 million) owing to that nation’s successful crackdown on freedom of expression online. According a source interviewed by Al Jazeera article, the new Pakistani firewall – once fully implemented – differs from previous attempts as the Chinese technology can allow the government to regulate and tackle websites and apps at a “granular level”. What the latter entails, as an ISP official told Dawn, is that the government can now block or restrict “access to single video or article”. Testing this new system usually takes place in a “sandboxed environment”, but the manner in which Pakistan’s internet system has been put together from tech sourced from numerous countries has meant that a large scale “live” test was needed, which the ISP official said explains the detrimental impact on internet speeds and access.

November 26, 2024 - Comments Off on Blue Area Blackout?

Blue Area Blackout?

A tweet by the CEO and a founder of Nayatel, an internet service provider based out of Islamabad, claimed that electricity had been cut off in Islamabad’s Blue Area, the city’s major commercial area, and where “multiple data centers serving lifeline data and internet are located”, suggesting an attempt at an internet and telecoms blackout, possibly related to the PTI protests. Though power was eventually restored, the tweet noted that the private sector power company responsible for Islamabad, IESCO, did not respond for several hours, in spite of numerous calls and “personal visits” to their offices.

November 15, 2024 - Comments Off on October 2024 Newsletter: Digital Rights Foundation submits ICCPR civil society report to the UN Human Rights Committee

October 2024 Newsletter: Digital Rights Foundation submits ICCPR civil society report to the UN Human Rights Committee

DRF made a civil society submission report to the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) for its second state review of Pakistan’s progress under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) obligations. The ICCPR commits nations to respect civil and political rights, including the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of peaceful assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process. DRF raised serious concerns about Pakistan’s growing censorship and restrictive laws that endanger free speech, privacy, and press freedom, especially for journalists. Read more here.

Policy Initiatives:

Campaign on Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October)

DRF raised awareness about different cybersecurity concerns in honour of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. These ranged from access control, device security, safe browsing, email and social media security, to social engineering attacks and opting out of Meta AI.

Campaign on International Day of the Girl Child (11 October)

In honor of International Day of the Girl Child, DRF ran polls and open-ended questions to engage with girls in Pakistan directly and ask them about their experience of online spaces, emphasizing the need to empower girls with digital literacy and let them lead the way.

Campaign  on Global Encryption Day (21 October)

DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad talked about the importance of global encryption for Global Encryption Day, highlighting the importance of encryption to our right of privacy in online spaces.

Press Coverage:

Nighat Dad  highlights platform accountability on AJ Stream

DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad shared her views with AJ Stream on platform accountability and preventing the accumulation of power in the hands of the few. A multi-stakeholder approach is essential, especially voices from global majority countries.

Watch the entire segment here

Op-eds on Social Media Disinformation and Internet Freedom

DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad and Senior Research Associate Adnan A. Chaudhri published an op-ed on the role of social media platforms in amplifying disinformation, specifically in the context of harassment allegations that surfaced online related to a female student of Punjab Group of Colleges. These allegations, suspected to be disinformation, sparked campus-wide protests and retaliatory police violence.

Another op-ed published by the DRF team (Executive Director Nighat Dad and Programs Lead Seerat Khan) was on Pakistan’s ranking as second among nine countries that imposed internet and platform restrictions in this year’s Freedom on the Net report.

DRF was also mentioned in the press in the following articles:

Date Title Link
6 Oct Pakistan's Kafkaeaque Identity Problem https://www.dawn.com/news/1863377/pakistans-kafkaesque-identity-problem
11 Oct TikTok commits to supporting its community’s mental well-being https://tradechronicle.com/tiktok-commits-to-supporting-its-communitys-mental-well-being/#google_vignette
12 Oct Tiktok partners with Headspace to promote mental health awareness https://tribune.com.pk/story/2502308/tiktok-partners-with-headspace-to-promote-mental-health-awareness#google_vignette
22 Oct Caught in the web: Surveillance, data protection and AI in Pakistan https://www.dawn.com/news/1864073/caught-in-the-web-surveillance-data-protection-and-ai-in-pakistan
24 Oct The Flip Face of AI https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/you/1244134-the-flip-face-of-ai

 

Events:

Gendered Disinformation in South Asia: Findings and Policy recommendations

On 29 October, DRF participated in an online seminar focused on gendered disinformation in South Asia. DRF Program Lead Seerat Khan and Cyber Harassment Helpline Manager Hyra Basit presented insights from DRF’s in-depth research on gendered disinformation in Pakistan, based on two years of data collection and annotation. DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the critical need for platform accountability and transparency in addressing gendered disinformation across South Asia.

 

Asia Regional Symposium on Tech-Facilitated Gender Based Violence by UNFPA and Australia e-Commission

DRF participated in a symposium on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) hosted by UNFPA on 15 October 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. The event highlighted the impact of AI and TFGBV, particularly in the Global South. DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad provided an overview of DRF's work in addressing TFGBV and highlighted the rise in AI-generated image abuse and gendered disinformation campaigns. DRF Legal Manager Irum Shujah discussed DRF’s commitment to closely monitor processes at the High-Level Advisory Board, and elaborated on the pros and cons of AI from a South Asian perspective, emphasizing the need for equitable digital spaces in light of international legislation.

Digital Literacy and Citizenship Bootcamp at Women University, Multan

DRF conducted its 4th Digital Literacy and Citizenship Bootcamp for 52 students at the Women University in Multan, with the support of the U.S. Embassy, Islamabad. The students learnt about cyber harassment, online safety safety, disinformation and misinformation in today’s digital ecosystem, as well as the emergence of AI and LLMs in online and offline spaces.

Other events:

  • DRF was invited to attend the Meta APAC AI Literacy and Safety Summit in Singapore on 29-30 October. DRF shared its insights on how genAI contributes to TFGBV, with data analytics from the Cyber Harassment Helpline.
  • As part of the UN’s Global Media and Information Literacy Week, DRF Programs Lead Seerat Khan spoke at an online panel titled Media Literacy in the Age of Disinformation: Impact of Misinformation on Society & the Importance of Media Literacy.
  • DRF held a two-day digital skills training workshop in Lahore as part of its ongoing series aimed at empowering individuals from at-risk communities and professions. The training covered key digital safety practices and introduced participants to various open-source tools.

New tech and platform developments:

X shares user data in new privacy policy: Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has prepared a new privacy policy set to take effect on 15 November 2024. Under this policy, the platform will be able to share user data with third parties for training artificial intelligence (AI) models. This policy will allow any company to access licensed data from X for a fee.

Tip of the month (digital security):

Whenever you communicate on the internet, consider your security, especially when sharing sensitive or confidential information. Use encryption to protect your data. For secure messaging, consider using Signal over WhatsApp or Telegram, and for email, try ProtonMail instead of Gmail.

Cyber Harassment Helpline:

The Cyber Harassment Helpline received 211 complaints in total in October 2024, with  151 complaints by women.

If you’re encountering a problem online, you can reach out to our helpline at 0800-39393, email us at helpdesk@digitalrightsfoundation.pk or reach out to us on our social media accounts. We’re available for assistance from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

DRF Resources:

IWF Portal

DRF in collaboration with Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and the Global Fund to End Violence Against Children launched a portal to combat children’s online safety in Pakistan. The new portal allows internet users in Pakistan to anonymously report child sexual abuse material in three different languages- English, Urdu, and Pashto.

www.report.iwf.org.uk/pk

StopNCII.org

Meta along with Revenge Porn Helpline (RPH) has launched a portal to support victims of Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse (NCII). NCII is a free portal for reporting cases of sensitive or sexual content existing online. Once you report a case, the necessary steps will be taken to block the images from the platform.

https://stopncii.org/

November 5, 2024 - Comments Off on Online Gendered Violence against trans community in Pakistan: Dolphin Ayan Khan Case

Online Gendered Violence against trans community in Pakistan: Dolphin Ayan Khan Case

DRF investigates the dissemination of harmful content on social media platforms against transgender community member Dolphin Khan and identifies gaps in the implementation of platforms’ content moderation rules

Trigger Warnings: Discussions of Non-consensual Nudity, Threats of Bodily Harm, Technology-Facilitated Gendered Violence, Blurred/Obscured screenshots from a non-consensual video (for information purposes).

Context:

Pakistan’s transgender community has persistently experienced violence, ostracization at the societal level, and sexual exploitation over the years. In the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, 267 cases of violence against the transgender community were reported during 2019-2023, but which resulted in only one conviction. To make matters worse, the community has long been a victim of online hate on social media platforms. In October 2024, DRF released “Gendered Disinformation in South Asia Case Study - Pakistan”, which focused on the discrimination and online hate speech directed at Pakistan’s trans community. According to the report, it was found that at least 22% of harmful social media posts (including TFGBV, gendered disinformation, gendered hate speech)  were aimed at the transgender community. However, as the report noted, meetings and escalations with social media platforms concerning trans-specific hate speech were unsatisfactory, owing to the latter’s responses - or, in the case of X, largely unresponsive post-change in ownership.

Dolphin Khan Case:

On 29 October, a non-consensual video of a Pakistani trans woman was leaked online, with users on multiple social media platforms sharing it. The video, which the victim Dolphin Ayan Khan - also known as Dolphin Ayaan - has described as being “forcibly recorded”, shows her being forced to strip down entirely and dance, by someone in the background who can be heard but not seen by the viewer, after being abducted at gunpoint.

On the back of this incident, transgender rights activist Dr. Mehrub Awan brought the video to everyone’s attention on X on 30 October. Expressing disdain towards the persistent harassment of the trans community, Dr. Awan stressed:

 “...We have literally written papers, done podcasts, book chapters, and spoken to media and officials about “Beela violence” and how organised it is. We, ourselves, have presented data and identified hotspots - Mardan and Peshawar - and profiled the criminals involved. We have done everything that we, as a broken and battered community, could do. Ayyan (sic) was on the roads just a month ago organizing protests, and a year ago injured with bullets. When does this end? What else is expected from a community literally on the receiving end of genocidal murders in Pakhtunkhwa to do?”

Following the incident, Ms. Khan issued a video statement naming the alleged perpetrator behind the video and confirming that police authorities had been informed about the incident. Seeking  justice on the matter, she vowed to hold a press conference on this issue in November. According to news reports, on 01 November a case against the perpetrators of the video - which was filmed in 2023 - was filed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA).

Harmful Content On  Social Media Platforms: DRF’s findings

DRF conducted preliminary investigations into the matter to understand whether or not these videos were available on social media platforms especially X, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Tiktok. Social media platforms were reviewed on 31 October between 0900 AM-0300 PM, using the search terms “Dolphin Khan”, “Dolphin Ayan”, and “Dolphin Ayan Khan”. Owing to capacity and time constraints, DRF was unable to look at other platforms such as WhatsApp/Snack Video or Snapchat.

  • Non-consensual nude content:
    As per initial investigations, it was found that at least two accounts on X had reportedly posted clips of the actual video. However, none of these video clips were posted or available on Facebook, Tiktok or Instagram. Furthermore, DRF came across at least two concrete instances where a link shared by an account on X led to an uncensored video being hosted on at least two different pornographic websites (screenshots provided, but with URLs removed and images blurred). As of the 31 of October, these X profiles were still up, and with active links.
    Platform rules on non-consensual video:
    The availability of Dolphin’s non-consensual videos on X are in violation of X’s non-consensual nudity policy. It underscores how users cannot “post or share intimate photos or videos of someone that were produced or distributed without their consent.” In violation of these policies, an account can either be suspended or temporarily locked.
    While the accounts posting Dolphin’s videos had not been suspended at the time of data gathering, it was unclear if they were locked or not.  Irrespective of the restrictions, merely locking an account without removing the harmful post seemed an ineffective strategy in this case. DRF’s Cyber Harassment Helpline in the past has recorded similar incidents like these where transgender activists had their pictures/videos shared on the platform which were in violation of this policy, and yet had not been removed by the platform.

Accounts on X actively sharing clips from the leaked non-consensual video

 

Example of users on X sharing an external link to a pornographic website that is hosting the video in question

  • Posts containing malicious links:
    Multiple social media accounts on Facebook and X collectively were luring users towards suspected malicious web links that offered full access to the video of Ms. Khan which leads to a non-conformity of a second violation of policies of these platforms.  In the case of X, DRF found at least eight unique accounts that purported to offer full access to the video and at least one account that made three posts with different images, but linking out to the same spam or suspicious link, as indicated in the screenshots in this report. Similarly on Facebook, DRF came across at least ten unique accounts that claimed to offer full access to the video, but with each sharing the same screenshots. One Facebook account made at least two posts that offered the same spam or suspicious link, and another with a slightly different account name that shared the same spam or suspicious link.  Similarly, On YouTube, DRF found at least one example of someone purporting to offer the video in full in their comment section (with a censored screenshot), only to find it link out to a spam website (this appears to be this particular YouTube account’s modus operandi, as an attempt to garner views/likes, for different sorts of videos). No such posts containing suspected malicious links were found on Instagram or Tiktok within the time period under investigation, at the time of this report.


Example of users on X sharing suspected malicious web links

It is unclear whether all of the links observed lead to active executions of malware, and requires further investigation. As per initial investigations into a few links found on X and Facebook, it was found that clicking on a link within said posts would redirect users to external websites that would  install or attempt to install software, adult material or other unexpected programmes. This is a common malware redistribution tactic that can trick people into downloading harmful software posed as legitimate (if unethical and hateful) material. Furthermore, VirusTotal also found these links to be suspicious or malicious.

 

 

Platform rules on malicious links:

Social media platforms have slightly different rules when it comes to regulating accounts posting suspicious links. Meta’s policy on Cyber Security prohibits “Attempts to share, develop, host, or distribute malicious or harmful code…” Such accounts would be suspended with or without a warning. Similarly, YouTube accounts posting suspected malicious links are in violation of YouTube’s policies concerning “external links”. Youtube violations - whether this pertains to malicious or suspicious links - will be subject to a three strike system: strike one, where an account is suspended for one week; strike two, where the account is suspended for two weeks (if within 90 days of the first strike); strike three, which, if occurring in the 90 day period mentioned, will lead to termination. On the other hand, X’s policies are less restrictive but only state that the platform “may take action to limit the spread” of “malicious links that could steal personal information or harm electronic devices” or spam “links that disrupt their experience.

Thus, the accounts posting malicious links on Meta and YouTube will be liable to be suspended (with or without a warning) but those on X cannot be suspended as long as the links’  outreach is limited by X. In theory, the accounts posted on Youtube and Meta should have been suspended at least for posting suspected malicious links and those on X would have their reach limited. However, the content moderation measures in place seemed insufficient in this case to protect the users from potentially harmful software.

In order to timely raise awareness about the presence of suspected malicious links on platforms, DRF’s Executive Director Nighat Dad posted on Facebook and instagram, warning about a profile sharing these links especially on X. However, her Facebook post was taken down by Meta within hours, claiming that the post violated Community Standards regarding Cybersecurity. Interestingly, the same post was not removed from Instagram.  Reflecting on the experience, Nighat noted:

“While my story only aimed at warning users against harmful content that itself violated the platform’s rules, it looks like the automated checking system highlighted my post on Facebook as problematic and removed it but not on Instagram.”

Conclusion:

Transgender women in Pakistan are extremely susceptible to violence, as already noted in DRF’s case study on gendered disinformation in South Asia. The transgender community in Pakistan has been subjected to offline violence, accusations of blasphemy and economic harm which has been perpetuated with orchestrated campaigns like these by using trans individuals non-consensual images to call for more harm and violence. Trans individuals acceptance within society is under constant threat and the rise in targeted attacks against them has already led to a question mark around their rights as a citizen of Pakistan.. The Federal Shariat Court judgement striking down important sections of the Transgender (Protection of Rights) Act 2018 pertaining to self identity and later the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) temporarily halting issuing identity cards for the community grows to show the systematic and institutional violence that the community faces due to these disinformation campaigns online.

In Pakistan, non-consensual intimate and nude images are weaponized against women and gendered minorities. DRF’s Cyber Harassment Helpline has over time highlighted to platforms that these visuals cause imminent harm to transgender individuals and in most instances can lead to offline violence. Despite platforms prioritising this type of content that causes imminent physical harm, platforms’ approach with its automated content moderation policies leaves this harmful content online.

In recent trends in cases of gender based violence it has been witnessed that victims facing graphic violence and threats are filmed and photographed during the violence as an act of authority and intimidation towards the victims. The presence of harmful content on social media platforms in Dolphin Khan’s case is a reminder of these challenges and growing trends pertaining to regulating harmful content from social media platforms. Irrespective of the posts’ wider reach on the platforms, anyone curiously looking for Dolphin’s videos could have found them on X. Furthermore, they would have also been vulnerable to malicious links not only on X but also on Facebook and Youtube. Thus, merely locking or warning accounts for violating community standards might not be enough to proactively protect users from harmful content.

As technology is exacerbating technology facilitated gender based violence (TFGBV) and the degrees of violence of graphic harms are becoming more frequent and dangerous, platforms need to identify these patterns and look at non-consensual visuals in the global south from an intersectional lens particularly ensuring rapid and quick response mechanisms to deal with this problem. DRF will continue to work with platforms to highlight these challenges and ensure that online spaces are safe for users across all demographics.

 

October 14, 2024 - Comments Off on September 2024 Newsletter: Global Digital Compact at UNGA

September 2024 Newsletter: Global Digital Compact at UNGA

DRF is proud to announce that the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Advisory Body on AI, of which our Executive Director Nighat Dad is a member, presented their final report at this year's UN General Assembly. Read the report here. This report is the culmination of the body's efforts to establish a global AI governance framework that prioritizes human rights, particularly with the meaningful inclusion of the Global South. Its recommendations are now integrated in a groundbreaking pact among 193 member states called the Global Digital Compact, representing a significant commitment to rights-based AI and data governance. Ms. Dad provided further insights on the body's work during the Freedom Online Coalition's side event, emphasizing the importance of empowering civil society organizations to actively shape the future, and of holding social media platforms accountable to uphold fundamental rights.

Policy Initiatives:

Nighat Dad at the Global AI Summit (GAIN) 2024

At this year's GAIN summit in September, DRF Executive Director and Member of the UN Secretary General's Advisory Body on AI Nighat Dad underscored the importance of consulting all stakeholders for any AI governance initiative, especially civil society. AI policies must also be grounded in a rights-based framework, she said.

DRF published legal analysis on draft bill on AI regulation

A bill on AI regulation titled the ‘Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Act 2024’ was introduced in the Senate in September. The bill proposes a five-member National Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NCAI). Its responsibilities will include ensuring equitable access to AI opportunities for all citizens; maintaining human oversight over AI matters, particularly in areas such as national security, health, and education; guaranteeing AI systems are safe, secure from "malicious use", and free from errors; developing a robust AI research and development infrastructure; and utilizing AI to enhance public service delivery, such as in healthcare, finance, trade, and science. Furthermore, the bill imposes fines up to PKR 2.5 billion for non-compliance with provisions of the bill without specifying what "non-compliance" would mean. DRF has issued a quick analysis of the draft bill here.

International Day of Democracy Social Media Campaign

On 15 September, DRF marked the International Day of Democracy by questioning whether AI could be harnessed for good as a meaningful tool for governance and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

International Identity Day (ID Day) Social Media Campaign

On 16 September, DRF marked the International Day of Identity (or ID Day) by noting how our national identity cards (or CNICs) contain crucial sensitive information that must be safeguarded against theft or misuse. Read to find out about an important security tip that helps maintain privacy when sharing a digital copy of the card.

International Day for Universal Access to Information Campaign

 

On 28 September, DRF reflected on the many restrictions imposed on our access to information online during the year, and the impact it has had so far.

Press Coverage:

Nighat Dad spoke to Express News about keeping your online data safe

DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad spoke to Express News about ways to protect oneself against hacks and scams using online safety best practices, such as strong passwords, two-factor authentication (2FA) and updating your devices and software. Watch more here.

DRF team on VOA Urdu’s View 360 Program about cyberbullying

In an interview on VOA Urdu's View 360 program, DRF's Programs Lead Seerat Khan shed light on the nature of cyberbullying and ways to protect children from it. She emphasized how women and girls are most vulnerable to such online attacks that misuse their pictures and personal information, and recommended active parental controls and supervision, targeted education programs on digital literacy, and collective societal responsibility for using online spaces ethically. Watch the entire segment here.

Nighat Dad on the achievement of AI recommendations adopted in Global Digital Compact

DRF Executive Director Nighatdad recounted on Bol News how the Global Digital Compact was adopted this year at the inaugural UN General Assembly. In her capacity as member of the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Body on AI, Ms. Dad said that the body's tireless efforts to recommend a global AI governance framework have finally borne fruit—in a historical achievement, this body's recommendations were incorporated in the Global Digital Compact, and will now pave the way for future AI governance initiatives. Watch the entire segment here,

 

DRF was also cited in the press in the following press coverage:

 

Media outlet Date Title
New York Post 4 September Members of Meta’s Oversight Board have criticized Israel over Gaza — before deciding ‘from the river to the sea’ isn’t hate speech
Pakistan Today 6 September Cyber security– imperative for Pakistan’s digital landscape
New York Post 5 September Meta Oversight Board members have blasted Israel over Gaza: ‘Most criminal army in history’
Arab News 10 September Governance and regulation of AI is crucial, experts say at Saudi-hosted summit
Zenger News 17 September Kenya’s Special Envoy Urges Global Finance Reforms For Inclusive AI Governance At GAIN 2024 Summit‌

Events:

Digital Literacy and Citizenship Bootcamp at FCCU, Lahore

The DRF team, led by Senior Program Manager Zainab Durrani, conducted its third Digital Literacy and Citizenship Bootcamp at the Forman Christian College University (FCCU) in Lahore, with the support of the U.S. Embassy, Islamabad. The opening ceremony for this 10-day program was held at FCCU on 27 August 2024, with Rector FCCU Dr. Jonathan Addleton as the keynote speaker and DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad for the welcome note. 49 students learned key concepts such as legal knowledge, social science research, digital safety, digital etiquettes, AI and LLMs, and the impact of the disinformation ecosystem.

Emotional Resilience and Well-being Retreat 2024

DRF hosted its annual retreat for 27 women journalists and media practitioners at Nathia Gali, led by Program Manager Maham Bhatty, on 20-24 September. The retreat aimed to offer a platform for the participants to network, foster relationships, learn about protecting themselves in both online and offline spaces, and develop effective stress management and self-care strategies. It involved two days of intensive sessions in areas such as digital and legal safety, team-building activities, therapeutic healing sessions, and yoga; followed by one day of sightseeing to allow the participants a chance to unwind and step away from the daily challenges of their profession.

Two-day Digital Skills Training Workshop in Islamabad

DRF held a two-day digital skills training workshop in Islamabad. This workshop is part of a series designed to empower members of at-risk communities or occupations. The training focused on essential digital safety practices, featuring sessions on open-source tools. Additionally, our legal team provided insights into navigating legal challenges and reporting online hateful content in Pakistan.

DRF at Global Gathering 2024

At the Global Gathering in Estoril, Portugal, in September 2024, DRF played a significant role in hosting and participating in various events, including different circles and hosting a booth.  DRF led discussions on topics related to digital rights, privacy, and security. Our booth featured interactive sessions, showcasing DRF's work in advancing digital rights in Pakistan and fostering regional cooperation on issues such as online privacy and combating gender-based violence online. The event allowed for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration with other global digital rights organizations​.

Asia Pacific Feminist Forum (APFF)  2024

DRF participated in the APFF held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, this year, where we presented our research on gendered disinformation in South Asia along with our partner organizations Meedan, Chambal Media, and The Quint. The presentation was based on the case study developed as part of the research that captured the realities of local communities for a more inclusive perspective.

Landscapes of Hope Annual Meeting on the Margins of Requiem for Justice

DRF participated in the annual meeting of Landscapes of Hope, a network of 25 civil society organizations from South America, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, organized by Action for Hope from 18-23 September in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This gathering brought together artists, writers, journalists, and civil society activists from across the globe to raise awareness about social and cultural challenges in the world on issues involving freedom of speech, inequality, injustice, and oppression.

DRF attended a Training Workshop on Legal Strategies for Advancing Gender Justice

DRF's legal team participated in a two-day training workshop organized by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in Lahore from 5-6 September 2024. The workshop provided in-depth insights into effective legal strategies for promoting gender justice. The workshop also featured interactive discussions and group presentations on how to implement these strategies for public advocacy, offering practical approaches to advancing gender rights through legal frameworks.

DRF attended the “In Search of a Roadmap for Police Reform” roundtable

DRF attended a roundtable on police reform in Punjab organized by Centre for Peace and Development Initiative (CPDI). This roundtable covered the implementation of the Police Order, matters of oversight and accountability, and other policing challenges. DRF's Legal Lead Irum Shujah highlighted the gendered perspective of dealing with local police when assisting women subjected to gender-based violence, both online and offline. She emphasized the importance of addressing the lack of gender sensitization, which often leads to female victims being re-victimized when seeking legal remedies.

DRF attended a Mobilization Meeting on Digital Rights Emergency in Pakistan

On 24 September, the DRF legal team attended a mobilization meeting on the digital rights emergency in Pakistan, organized by HRCP in Islamabad. Policy experts, human rights activists, journalists and civil society members came together to tackle pressing issues such as internet disruptions, VPN registration, and the installation of firewalls. Key discussions included the ongoing ban on X (formerly Twitter) and a critical analysis of the Punjab Defamation Act, which raised serious concerns about legal definitions and the increasing burdens on defendants.

New tech and platform developments

The Global Digital Compact: On 22 September 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Global Digital Compact. The Global Digital Compact is a UN initiative designed to lay down a set of guidelines for how digital technologies should be governed globally. Its focus ranges from digital rights to ensuring the responsible use of emerging technologies such as AI. It comes on the back of years of work into evolving a global consensus on digital cooperation.

Meta introduces Instagram Teen Accounts: In an effort to keep teenage children safe, Meta introduced Instagram Teen Accounts, designed to address parents’ concerns regarding their children’s wellbeing and online safety. These accounts include a supervision feature with insights into who the child is chatting with and the ability to block access to the app or certain topics in the feed for a specific time period.

DRF’s Cyber Harassment Helpline

Our Cyber Harassment Helpline received 236 complaints in total in September 2024, with 150 complaints submitted by women and transgender individuals. If you’re encountering a problem online, you can reach out to this helpline at 0800-39393, email us at helpdesk@digitalrightsfoundation.pk or reach out to us on our social media accounts. We’re available for assistance from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Sunday.

DRF Resources

IWF Portal

DRF in collaboration with Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and the Global Fund to End Violence Against Children launched a portal to combat children’s online safety in Pakistan. The new portal allows internet users in Pakistan to anonymously report child sexual abuse material in three different languages- English, Urdu, and Pashto.

www.report.iwf.org.uk/pk

StopNCII.org

Meta along with Revenge Porn Helpline (RPH) has launched a portal to support victims of Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse (NCII). NCII is a free portal for reporting cases of sensitive or sexual content existing online. Once you report a case, the necessary steps will be taken to block the images from the platform.

https://stopncii.org/

September 11, 2024 - Comments Off on Digital Rights Foundation’s Comment Posts that include “From The River To The Sea”

Digital Rights Foundation’s Comment Posts that include “From The River To The Sea”

Digital Rights Foundation Research and Policy Department 

21-5-2024

In November 2023, following the events of October 7th there was a surge in posts online containing the phrase “From the River to the Sea” - a phrase used by people across the world to show their support for Palestine. The complete slogan, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free” is a reference to the land across the historical state of Palestine from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. The slogan has been used since the 1960s by Palestinian nationalist and resistance groups such as the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Hamas. Over time the phrase has become increasingly popular among Palestinians, and Palestinian diaspora around the world as it speaks to their personal ties to the land. Many identify themselves strongly with the village or town they or their ancestors come from, stretching across the land, from Jericho and Safed near the Jordan River, to Jaffa and Haifa on the shores of the Mediterranean sea. 

As the phrase is used globally by different actors, the context and intent varies depending on who is using it. Despite that, the chant is mostly used to support and empower the struggle of all Palestinians, regardless of religion, striving for a free and sovereign homeland. However, there have been instances where variations of the phrase have been used to support the movement for a Greater Israel. For example, the founding charter of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party states: “Between the sea and the Jordan River there will only be Israeli sovereignty”. In 1977, their platform called for Israeli sovereignty over the land between Jordan and the Mediterranean sea, openly demanding complete annexation of the West Bank. 

The chant can be equated to the commonly supported ideology for a ‘Greater Israel’ - an Israeli Jewish state that extends from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. If we consider Palestinian usage of the chant for liberation as a call for the expulsion of Jews from the region, then in all fairness, the same should hold true for a call for a Greater Israel. It is no secret that the current Israeli government and those that came before have supported the complete annihilation and expulsion of Palestinians from the land. Supporters of the zionist ideology perceive the chant as a violent call because it threatens their vision of a solely Jewish state. The liberation of Palestine means that Israel will have to treat Palestinian Arabs and Israelis as equal citizens, adding millions of Palestinian Arabs to their citizenship rolls - a decision that goes against their aim of establishing a Greater Israel, diminishing the “Jewishness” of the state.

  In the past claims have been made that the slogan is antisemitic, however in truth the slogan and its use reflect a long history of attempts to silence Palestinian voices and those speaking in solidarity. Palestinian-American writer Yousef Munayyer argues that those who perceive “From the River to the Sea” to have genocidal connotations or any desire for the destruction of Israel, were simply reflective of their own Islamophobia. He argues that the phrase was instead merely used to express people's desire for a state where “Palestinians can live in their homeland as free and equal citizens, neither dominated by others nor dominating others.” Some Palestinians say that the slogan refers to a single state where Palestinians and Israelis can live together, and not as a call to remove anyone from the region. According to Rama Al Malah, an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement, the chant in no way calls for the killing of Jewish people but is a way for them to say that they want liberation from 75 years of occupation, and to advocate for the return of refugees who have been forced out of their land from 1948 till now. 

Now that the intended use of the phrase through online and offline platforms is established, it is important to highlight how Meta’s policies and content moderation practices have been heavily censoring content relating to Palestine since October 7th, 2023. Users across the globe have reported that the content they share that is pro-Palestine is being ‘shadow-banned’, limiting their reach and engagement on the platforms. Users have also reported the removal of pro-Palestine content from the platform after being flagged for ‘violating community guidelines’.When content regarding conflict areas is removed by Meta from its platforms, the risk of erasure of crucial evidence to be used in international criminal courts for prosecuting perpetrators increases. In addition to silencing voices that advocate for Palestinian rights, the deletion of the phrase “From the River to the Sea” among other pro-Palestine content creates gaps in potential digital evidence on human rights violations. As per Leiden guidelines, digitally derived evidence including photographs, social media content and videos is being increasingly used as documented evidence in international criminal prosecutions. The UN Fact-Finding mission using Facebook posts as evidence in the case of brutalities against Myanmar’s Rohingya population is one such example that signifies the crucial role played by social media platforms for the preservation of records. Similarly, Meta’s removal of content related to the Palestine-Israel conflict, in any capacity, creates a dent in the repository that has the potential to serve as crucial evidence for legal decision-making against violations within conflict zones.   

According to a report by Human Rights Watch from October to November 2023, there have been 1050 takedowns on Instagram and Facebook relating to Pro Palestinian content. Of the 1050 takedowns, written primarily in the English language from over 60 countries, 1049 cases contained peaceful content in solidarity with Palestinians. Since the October 7 conflict, there has been a surge in hateful content against Palestinians on social media platforms. 7amleh’s AI-powered language model has been monitoring the spread of hate speech in Hebrew against Palestinians and pro-Palestine users on these platforms. Since October the model has classified 6,026,492 hateful and violent cases on platforms. The distribution of violence according to the tool has been the highest on X (79.7%) followed by Meta platforms (19.1%). Additionally, it is difficult to overlook Meta’s biased approach towards pro-Palestinian content on the platform when in October 2023 Meta started inserting the word ‘terrorist’ into profile bios of Palestinian users on Instagram; later issuing an apology stating that the platform was experiencing a bug in auto-translation on Instagram. Previously, Meta’s track record in the May 2021 crisis between Israel and Palestine showed a similar pattern when Palestinian voices were censored and shadow-banned on the platform, as was later confirmed by the Sustainable Business Network and Consultancy (BSR) report. The continuous removal of pro-Palestine content on the platform indicates that Meta has repeatedly censored the voices of users on its platform even before the events of October 9. Post-October 9, the censorship has been further aggravated by big tech platforms. 

Meta’s handling of Palestinian content, particularly the removal of pages such as Eye of Palestine and the suspension of Palestinian journalist Motaz Azaiza’s account, raises serious concerns about the platform’s commitment to human rights and freedom of speech on the platform. Despite Meta’s newsworthy policy, which protects journalistic content, these accounts have faced undue restrictions and reach limitations. This biased enforcement is in stark contrast with Meta’s approach during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where the platform displayed clear bias by promoting content favoring and showing solidarity with Ukraine. This discrepancy underscores an inconsistency in Meta’s content moderation practices, undermining principles of freedom of expression, freedom of association, and equality and non-discrimination. Although Meta has since issued an apology for its unfair treatment of Palestinian solidarity voices, the platform persists in limiting content that supports Palestine, further perpetuating digital apartheid and the use of social media algorithms that disproportionately impact marginalized voices. This ongoing issue highlights a significant gap between Meta’s stated policies and its actions, calling into question its commitment to upholding human rights responsibilities.

In its recent policy changes, Meta has introduced new default limits on political content, weakening free expression online by disproportionately affecting political content from marginalized groups. The time and context of this particular policy raise questions about the potentially biased approach of the platform in controlling narratives. This not only undermines democratic values of free speech and association but also exacerbates existing inequalities, particularly for voices supporting the Palestinian plight. The biased application of Meta’s policies reflects a broader trend of digital discrimination, where algorithmic decisions and content moderation policies reinforce existing power imbalances and suppress dissenting voices. Meta’s inconsistent and biased handling of Palestinian content, coupled with its preferential treatment of other geopolitical issues, not only raises grave concerns around adherence to global human rights principles but also potentially undermines systematic freedom of expression, freedom of association, and non-discrimination. Tech platforms need to create more transparent and equitable content moderation policies that are sensitive to contextual nuances.

Meta’s response to the phrase “From the river to the sea” on its platform revolves around several key human rights principles. Facebook, as a platform with 3.03 billion monthly active users, has the responsibility to protect the fundamental human rights of its user base. This includes allowing individuals to express political opinions, advocate for political changes, express solidarity with a cause and ensure equality and non-discrimination. The cases highlight contexts where the aim of the phrase “From the river to the sea” is to advocate peacefully for Palestinian civil rights without promoting violence or hatred towards people under protected characteristics. Upon reviewing the content mentioning the phrase on Meta platforms, it was found that a large majority of it only mentions and sympathizes with Palestinians with no discussion being anti-semitic or anti-Israel. The question that arises is in a case where the world has seen the extent of atrocities that Palestinians have been subjected to, are expressing personal opinions around the current crisis considered promoting terrorism on platforms? Many Palestinian activists have expressed that the complete phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” does not insult or violate the sovereignty of the state of Israel, the Jewish community, or Meta’s content moderation policies. Through a more subjective perspective where the phrase is used critically against state institutions, Meta does not categorize the use of the phrase as hate speech, particularly when the phrase is against state institutions rather than any specific recognized individuals. In all three cases, the phrase has been provided more context with additional text, for example “#DefundIsrael”, “Zionist State of Israel”, and “Zionist Israeli occupiers”, highlighting the cases as an association with a political cause rather than to support any dangerous organizations (as categorized by Meta and/or the United States Government). Although the cause is controversial in the current global political landscape, the phrase and its use in these cases do not violate Meta’s community guidelines on “Hate speech”. The first case where the user claimed the phrase “violates Meta’s policies prohibiting content that promotes violence or supports terrorism” refers to Meta’s rules on “Violence and incitement”, “Dangerous Organizations” and Individuals. The phrase “From the river to the sea” is used to show solidarity with Palestinians in general, rather than an affiliation with any political or resistance group. None of the cases presented by the Oversight Board insinuate or show affiliation and alliance, or promote dangerous organizations. Moreover, Meta’s categorization of dangerous organizations needs further transparency and context. The issue of contextual categorization of keywords and associations has been a long-standing debate, especially with Meta’s content moderation policies. For a platform that deems its policies global and standardized for every country, specifically using “United States designated terrorist organizations” contradicts their global policies agenda. These policies need more robust and inclusive parameters to be globally inclusive throughout different regions. Moreover, the categorizations of “Dangerous organizations” should be transparently communicated with Meta’s trusted partners to make them aware of the kind of content that should be escalated to Meta.

These cases are a testament to addressing the contextual application of Meta’s community standards. Ideally, there should be no room for specific targeting of any religious groups thus anti-semitic content should be taken down right away, however in cases where the content is associated with a peaceful socio-political movement, the content should be left up as it does not go against any of Meta’s content moderation guidelines. Hence, the three cases should not be removed from the platform as long as they have been posted in solidarity with a political cause and are categorized as freedom of speech and freedom of association. 

The use of the phrase has also been widely scrutinized at the state and educational institutions level. The phrase was labeled antisemitic by the US House of Representatives in a resolution that was passed with a 377 majority against 44 who voted against it in January 2024. US Representative Rashida Tlaib was censured by the House of Representatives through a resolution as a consequence of her using the phrase on social media. Several House Republicans and Democrats came together to condemn the pro-Palestine statements of the only Palestinian-origin representative. According to them, the phrase’s genocidal nature encourages the eradication of the state of Israel. It is important to note that the resolution was passed and supported by the majority of House Representatives despite Tlaib clarifying on the House floor that her criticism is targeted at the Israeli government, not the people. In the UK, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the slogan and called the people who use it either gravely misinformed or supportive of the threat that the slogan signifies towards Israel’s existence. Last year, Pro Palestine rallies across the UK were condemned by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman. She was of the opinion that the rallies were “hate marches” against Jewish people and the state of Israel, encouraging the police to use brute force with zero tolerance. Braverman has repeatedly expressed her contention with the rallies and the phrase asking why it has been justified under claims of religious struggle. She has also proposed to alter the Terrorism Act 2000 as in its current state, evidence of incitement and encouragement of terrorism is required to charge the protestors, calling for laws to tackle “mass extremism” on the UK streets. Individuals holding office encouraging the police to take strong action against protestors without distinguishing between peaceful and non-peaceful elements is deeply concerning as it paves the way for influencing and forming a collective narrative that eventually infiltrates the general public. The encouragement of violence against the protestors in itself comes off as a threat to people’s right to protest and freedom of expression; just as Rashida Tlaib’s clarification on her stance being against the Israeli government and not the people was ignored, condemning her pro-Palestine stance.

The pro-Palestine student protests taking place across university campuses have been labeled anti-semitic resulting in several students being arrested by the police. Upon being asked about the phrase being used, the Columbia University President pointed out that although she feels that the phrase is antisemitic, there are people who do not hold the same opinion. Since April 18, the arrests have taken place at 40 different US campuses resulting in more than 2100 students being arrested. The arrests and the administration’s sympathetic stance towards anti-protestors have widely challenged freedom of speech and expression where students are being penalized for voicing out their opinion and publicly protesting against a genocide. Such practices are discriminatory and promote a greater divide within the community. 

Censoring public opinions on platforms is not only an undemocratic practice but also sets a questionable global precedent where silencing the masses becomes an acceptable norm. Although drawing a clear binary between free speech and hate speech is important, institutions and government bodies need to demarcate through careful consideration. As mentioned earlier, the particular phrase under scrutiny is used during peaceful pro-Palestine protests to showcase solidarity with Palestinians and their struggles. It is more to sympathize with them than it is to acts of terror. As the binary is defined, it is important to remember that calling out states participating in genocide cannot and should not be categorized as hate speech let alone students being penalized for the same. Several universities including New York University and Columbia University have barred graduating students from attending their graduation ceremonies as a consequence of their participation in the protests. This has led the protesting students to create their own events under the name of “The People’s Graduation” to provide support to the barred students by celebrating their achievements together. In addition, faculty members have also come forward to protest and in support of the protesting students, the same can however not be said about university administrations. 

Beyond the right to protest, students and other migrants relocate to countries like the US and the UK to improve their quality of life which includes their right to stand up for and against different causes that resonate with their identities as an ethnic, religious, or social community. When influential countries take a draconian position that advocates for the suppression of free speech, in addition to alienating the victims, they invalidate the individual right to democratic expression and legitimize all forms of oppression citizens and marginalized groups face in authoritarian states. 

While the intended use of the phrase at large is to advocate for the freedom of Palestinians, some perceive it as a threat to a state. By censoring pro-Palestine content, big tech platforms play a role in the erasure of digital evidence against human rights atrocities in addition to curbing free speech online. At the state and educational institutions level, the opposition to the phrase emphasizes the increased suppression of marginalized communities and their voices. To ensure equitable justice and access to information on online platforms through content regulation, it is important to not engage in disproportionate assessment of certain cases. To maintain their global status, platforms need to ensure that the criteria to flag specific content should be gauged not in line with regulations within specific countries, for instance, the US or the UK as discussed above, but per global majority countries. 

September 10, 2024 - Comments Off on August 2024 Newsletter: DRF at DRAPAC’24 and APrIGF 2024

August 2024 Newsletter: DRF at DRAPAC’24 and APrIGF 2024

 

DRF’s team–Hyra Basit (Senior Program Manager), Abdullah Tariq (Research Associate) and Noman Fareed (Digital Security Trainer)–attended this year’s Digital Rights in the Asia-Pacific (DRAPAC) and Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) in Taiwan from 18-23 August. At a DRAPAC session titled “Gendered disinformation: Deepening perspectives and designing responses”, DRF launched its research in collaboration with Meedan, Chambal Media, and The Quint. This session offered varying perspectives on gendered disinformation through the unique lens of different regions in South Asia, and presented experiences through specific case studies.

Policy Initiatives:

Nighat Dad’s statement on National Minorities’ Day

To commemorate National Minorities Day on 11 August, DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad invited everyone to participate in the Aqliyati Huqooq March that took place that day at Frere Hall in Karachi. She said that this march is key for upholding the protection of minorities and highlighting what challenges they face on a day-to-day basis. This march is also against those forces that try to harm minorities and hence disrespect Pakistan’s mandate to protect minorities. Finally, she said that this march also speaks directly to all of us since the protection of minorities is our collective responsibility. Minorities’ rights are human rights.

Personal Data Protection Social Media Campaign

DRF’s social media campaign for highlighting #PrivacyIsARight continued into August with the following key infographics:

  • Why data protection is so important in today's digital landscape
  • How violence against gender minorities and privacy concerns clash with Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TF-GBV)
  • Know your rights as data subjects under the Personal Data Protection Bill 2023

Press Coverage:

DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad spoke to Geo News about Internet and social media disruption in Pakistan. She highlighted the ambiguity surrounding these disruptions which have created an environment rife for misinformation, fake news and speculations. She also pointed to the impact on the digital gig economy and the impact on people’s right to livelihoods, especially in today’s crippling economy. She advocated for more transparency and clarity at a national level, and an open conversation on the national security concerns continuously cited as a reason for these disruptions.

DRF was also cited in the press in the following press coverage:

Media outlet Date Title Link
The News 10 August, 2024 Only 10pc of digital users are aware of privacy concerns: experts https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1218294-only-10pc-of-digital-users-are-aware-of-privacy-concerns-experts
Pakistan Today 10 August, 2024 Internet services across Pakistan face disruption for second consecutive day, no one knows why https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2024/08/10/internet-services-across-pakistan-face-disruption-for-second-consecutive-day-no-one-knows-why/
Geo News 15 August, 2024 Social media disruption across Pakistan - Slow internet - No Internet - Geo Pakistan - Geo News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94Grcyj0f9o
Global Village Space 15 August, 2024 Internet Slowdown Caused by Increased Monitoring of Citizens https://www.globalvillagespace.com/internet-slowdown-caused-by-increased-monitoring-of-citizens/
Associated Press of Pakistan 19 August 2024 Social media — a boon or bane for our social fabric https://www.app.com.pk/features/social-media-a-boon-or-bane-for-our-social-fabric-2/
The News 19 August 2024 Social media — a boon or bane for our social fabric https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1221442-social-media-a-boon-or-bane-for-our-social-fabric
UN Women 27 August 2024 Call for Applications for Sponsorship to Participate in the Beijing+30 Civil Society Forum for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, November 2024 https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/stories/announcement/2024/08/CFA-sponsorship-to-participate-in-the-beijing30-civil-society-forum

Events:

DRF attended HRCP’s meeting on the impact of the Punjab Defamation Act 2024

 

On 16 August, DRF participated in a mobilization meeting on the Punjab Defamation Act organized by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in Lahore. The meeting brought together policy experts, lawyers, human rights activists, journalists and civil society members to discuss the potential misuse of the new law. Law and policy expert Muhammad Aftab Alam presented an overview of the Act, critiquing the drastic changes to definitions of key terms such as “broadcasting” and “newspaper”. He also condemned the creation of a parallel judicial system, as well as the unreasonable standard of burden of proof and financial challenges placed on defendants. Other stakeholders added that the Act further narrows civic spaces and threatens fundamental protections such as the right to information, freedom of speech, etc. Participants recommended repealing the Act and added that fundamental rights should be recognized and respected by the state.

DRF at LUMS Learning Institute’s Researcher’s Toolbox workshop

DRF attended the 'Researcher's Toolbox' workshop at the LUMS Learning Institute last week. This 2-day intensive program provided DRF’s team with extensive research methodologies, specialized sessions, and sophisticated data analysis techniques, significantly broadening our research expertise and methodological proficiency.

‘Fortifying the Truth in the Age of Synthetic Media workshop‘ by WITNESS

DRF was invited to attend a workshop by WITNESS from 31 July to 1 August. This workshop highlighted how synthetic media (e.g., deepfakes) and media manipulation technologies can impact human rights work in digital spaces, and their after-effects in on-ground realities.

Consultations on Data Localisation

On 1 August, DRF attended a consultation on data localisation in Islamabad which was jointly organized by Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom. Chaired by IT Minister Shaza Fatima, representatives from the government, industry and civil society discussed how to approach the issue of data localisation with minimal impact on Pakistan’s thriving digital economy. AIC also shared their findings from a report that calculated economic costs of data localisation in Pakistan.

DRF’s Cyber Harassment Helpline

Our Cyber Harassment Helpline received 246 complaints in total in August 2024, with  138 complaints submitted by women and transgender individuals. If you’re encountering a problem online, you can reach out to this helpline at 0800-39393, email us at helpdesk@digitalrightsfoundation.pk or reach out to us on our social media accounts. We’re available for assistance from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Sunday.

DRF Resources

IWF Portal

DRF in collaboration with Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and the Global Fund to End Violence Against Children launched a portal to combat children’s online safety in Pakistan. The new portal allows internet users in Pakistan to anonymously report child sexual abuse material in three different languages- English, Urdu, and Pashto.

www.report.iwf.org.uk/pk

StopNCII.org

Meta along with Revenge Porn Helpline (RPH) has launched a portal to support victims of Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse (NCII). NCII is a free portal for reporting cases of sensitive or sexual content existing online. Once you report a case, the necessary steps will be taken to block the images from the platform.

https://stopncii.org/