Regional Engagements & Domestic InitiativesPutting Pakistan on the Global Tech Map

DRF Founder Nighat Dad joined world leaders and thinkers in Paris for the Global Tech Thinkers Meeting, hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, and a European Commission panel at the Paris Peace Forum, bringing sharp insights on digital rights and policy to the global stage. Her presence marked a powerful moment for Pakistan in the conversations defining the future of technology and digital rights.

News Break in the Mountains: DRF’s Annual Retreat for Women Journalists

Sometimes, even the most unstoppable storytellers need a story of their own: one that’s about slowing down and remembering what balance feels like. This year, DRF’s much-loved Emotional Resilience and Well-Being Retreat took over the hills of Nathia Gali for three days of laughter, learning, and deep restoration.

Our participants’ mornings started with yoga under drifting clouds, followed by rejuvenation sessions with a professional masseuse; both small but meaningful reminders to care for the body that carries so much of the world’s weight. Between stretches and endless cups of tea, the DRF team led sessions that blended emphases on digital rights and security with emotional care.

The IT Team kicked things off with Cyber-Wellbeing: Navigating the Digital Landscape Securely, while the Helpline Team unpacked Navigating Journalism and Community Guidelines on Social Media. The Communications Team’s Beyond the Byline: Reimagining Storytelling inspired participants to see their work, and themselves, in new ways, and the Research Team’s How to Pitch a Story gave everyone the tools to make ideas shine. Add in art therapy, a powerful trust circle, and a heart-opening mental health session, and the retreat became exactly what it aimed to be: a gentle reset.

At its heart, the retreat reminded everyone of something simple but vital: that emotional resilience is the foundation of digital resilience. In caring for women journalists, DRF continues to champion not just safer digital spaces, but more sustainable ones too.

 

Press Coverage

Nighat Dad on the Gendered Impact of AI, and What Should Be Done About It

The DRF Founder spoke to both Bol News and Geo News on how AI-facilitated automation threatens the livelihoods of those most vulnerable: women, low-income workers, and those in informal sectors. She stressed that governments and institutions must focus on re-skilling, digital literacy and inclusive policy design to protect citizens in an increasingly uncertain landscape. Watch the full Bol News segment here.

Events

Privacy Matters: DRF Speaks on Digital Safety at TLA

DRF’s research team attended the 7th Teacher’s Learning Alliance Conference on 18 October 2025 as a speaker at a talk room titled, “Protecting Online Privacy.” The discussion focused on the rapid adoption of gadgets and related digital era topics while shedding light on critical issues such as privacy.

From Likes to Laws: Beaconhouse Newslands Students Learn Digital Safety with DRF

The DRF Legal and Digital Security Helpline team conducted an engaging session on October 15, 2025, with students from grades 6 to 10 at Beaconhouse Newlands. The interactive discussion focused on digital security and equipped students with practical tips on using social media responsibly and safely. The session concluded with an insightful legal awareness segment covering cyber laws, privacy, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in today’s digital world.

DRF DSTs Deliver Cyber Security Training Session at Dastak

On 9th October 2025, the DRF Legal and IT team were invited by Dastak to conduct a training session on cyber harassment and digital security. The session aimed to raise awareness about secure browsing and digital communication, as well as the practical legal actions and protections available under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 against online harms.

Provincial Consultation for  National Action Plan on Human Rights 2026

On October 28, 2025 DRF’s Legal Team participated in a multi-stakeholder consultation on the revision of the National Action Plan on Human Rights. The session brought together representatives from key sectors, including health, education, and civil society, who shared valuable recommendations to strengthen and shape the revised National Action Plan 2026.

From Multan to Karachi: DRF Holds Workshops on Online Safety

In collaboration with Voicepk.net and the AGHS Legal Aid Cell, and with the support of the European Union in Pakistan, DRF’s Legal Lead Irum Shujah and DST Noman Fareed hit the road to deliver workshops on online safety for rights-based content creators in Multan and Karachi. The sessions drew packed audiences eager to learn how to protect their digital voices and stay safe online.

Tech Trends

Auto-sharing location feature launched by Microsoft

In an attempt to improve workplace coordination, Microsoft Teams is introducing a new feature that automatically shares workers exact locations when connected to the office Wi-Fi. Meant to enhance collaboration and transparency, this function has sparked a privacy debate around how this could potentially compromise personal discretion.

Tip of the Month

This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, our IT Team shared four essential security tips to help you stay safe in the digital space.

Tip # 1

Do turn on “Multi-factor authentication” MFA but avoid SMS codes when possible.

Most people know MFA is safer than just using a password but here’s the catch:
SMS codes can actually be hijacked through spoofing and this sort of vulnerability is susceptible to even further attacks.

Instead, try using authenticator apps (like Google authenticator and Microsoft authenticator) or a hardware security key. These are much harder to steal and they massively cut down your chances of getting hacked.

The 2fa.directory lists sites that support two-factor authentication and is a great way to assess which authentication method suits you best as per the nature of the work you do.

Tip # 2

Be careful with what photos you post online: backgrounds can uncover sensitive details.

Hackers can zoom into pictures you upload online and spot things like:

• Wi-Fi router labels (with your password!)
• House numbers or street signs (revealing your location)
• Work ID badges or documents lying around

Did you know your photos might contain hidden metadata? Tools like Exifinfo.org can help reveal the information embedded in your images. Before posting, have a quick last minute check and blur out, crop or remove sensitive details from media files. Think of it as “digital decluttering” for your safety.

Tip # 3

Use a burner email for sign-ups.

Every time you sign up for something online, your email can end up in marketing lists; or worse, data leaks. Many companies sell or share your email with advertisers, leading to spam, phishing attempts, or even targeted scams. If your primary email is compromised, attackers can attempt password resets and access your other accounts.

Create a separate “burner” email (e.g., on Gmail or Outlook) for:

• Newsletter subscriptions
• Random online accounts
• Shopping websites or giveaways

If your burner email starts receiving too much spam or phishing, you can abandon it without risking your real accounts. This makes it way harder for attackers to target your real accounts.

Additionally, you can use email aliases or services like Proton Mail or SimpleLogin that mask your real email address.

Tip # 4

Check app permissions regularly.

Many apps ask for more access than they need (like a calculator wanting your camera).

These permissions can be abused to launch targeted attacks or steal sensitive information. Revoke any permissions that don’t make sense (e.g. a shopping app doesn’t need your microphone.)

Use the “Ask Every Time” option for sensitive permissions like location or microphone.

DRF Resources:

Digital Security Helpline

The Digital Security Helpline received 282 complaints in October 2025, of which 253 were related to cyber harassment.

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.

Legal Support

DRF’s Legal team processed 5 complaints in October 2025, with all involving women, mostly related to online harassment and defamation.

If you’re in need of any legal support or advice, you can reach out to DRF’s Ab Aur Nahin portal.

IWF Portal

       www.report.iwf.org.uk/pk

StopNCII.org

      https://stopncii.org/