Blog Archives

Latest Posts

Monthly

Categories

All Posts in

February 12, 2025 - Comments Off on Biometric Verification to Include Facial Recognition, Iris Scanning: PTA

Biometric Verification to Include Facial Recognition, Iris Scanning: PTA

Biometric verification in Pakistan will be expanded to include facial recognition and iris scanning technology, according to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, as part of the National Registration & Biometric Policy Framework (NRBPF). The Framework initiative also includes Pakistan’s Ministry of IT and Telecoms (MoITT), cellular mobile operators, and the National Database and Registration Authory (NADRA), the latter being responsible for the collection and storage and management of biometric data.

February 12, 2025 - Comments Off on AI tool to track media gender bias launched

AI tool to track media gender bias launched

The media monitoring and advocacy Uks Research Centre (UKC) launched what it calls an AI tool that will identify gender bias in media content, “whether it’s hiding in plain sight or lurking between the lines”. As reported by Dawn, the AI tool scans texts for “glaring and subtle biases”, and developed along the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) framework, deconstructing content through four key perspectives:

“clear stereotypes such as portraying women solely as caregivers, subtle biases such as consistently showing men as experts, neutral portrayals and content that actively challenged gender stereotypes.”

UKC developed the tool to offer “immediate, actionable feedback”, and targeted journalists, editors and reporters in particular.

February 11, 2025 - Comments Off on Government, Law Enforcement Crack Down on Illegal SIM Markets

Government, Law Enforcement Crack Down on Illegal SIM Markets

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) launched what is being called a nationwide crackdown on the illegal sales of “pre-activated” foreign SIMs in markets in major cities across the country.

The authorities said that these SIMs were being used for fraud, “unverified communications” and other criminal activities, and that their sale posed a threat to public or national security, particularly in regards to their lack of traceability.

February 11, 2025 - Comments Off on PECA Amendment Act riddled with errors, say lawyers

PECA Amendment Act riddled with errors, say lawyers

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act or PECA Amendments 2025, rushed into law earlier this year, is replete with errors that include incorrect section numbering and contradictory definitions, the Islamabad High Court was told, during a hearing filed by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and other media professionals.

Imran Shafique, a lawyer working on behalf of the petition filers, argued that the speed at which the PECA Amendments had been passed meant that not only were sections numbered incorrectly, but that errors such as, for example “complainant” being defined more than once twice, resulted in the Act “contradicting itself”, according to The News International. Mr. Shafique also said that the “complaint authority” which was established through PECA was already in existence under the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority. Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Riyasat Ali Azad also argued that the PECA Amendment Act was in violation of Articles 19 and 19A of the Constitution of Pakistan.

February 11, 2025 - Comments Off on Govt’s Ignite National Tech Fund website hacked, quickly restored.

Govt’s Ignite National Tech Fund website hacked, quickly restored.

The website of the Ignite National Tech Fund, a government-backed startup incubator, was hacked on Monday evening, raising serious concerns about the government and the security of its websites and other platforms. The hacking of the website resulted in the website being inaccessible – or accessible with great difficulty – for several hours, with animated cartoons being used to break into the website. Ignite officials claimed that not only had the website been restored, however, but that security measures had been fortified in response.

What Ignite and other government officials were not able to publicly discuss, however, were the identity of the parties responsible for the hack, or what weaknesses in the system had been exploited. Whether this was due to an in-depth investigation yet to be undertaken, or other reasons pertaining to security, has yet to be seen.

February 11, 2025 - Comments Off on Can Pakistan’s digital Economy Hit US$75 Billion?

Can Pakistan’s digital Economy Hit US$75 Billion?

Pakistan’s digital economy could reach a value of US$75 billion, according to the head of Jazz, one of Pakistan’s major telecoms providers. Amer Ibrahim, Jazz’s Chief Executive Officer made the statement in a presentation at the World Economic Forus 2025, held in Davos, Switzerland. This assertion was based on investments in “broadband infrastructure, fintech innovations, and artificial intelligence”, according to Samaa TV. He also emphasized the role of digital financial inclusion in Pakistan’s economic roadmap, particularly in regards to how “digital infrastructure improvements could enhance access to financial services and promote economic participation across various segments of society.”

February 10, 2025 - Comments Off on Pakistan committed to digital transparency, accountability and Ethical AI: IT Minister

Pakistan committed to digital transparency, accountability and Ethical AI: IT Minister

Pakistan’s IT Minister discussed the importance of closing the “digital divide” by promoting and engaging in “inclusive policies and capacity-building initiatives”, as well as the importance of “data privacy, security, and fairness in artificial intelligence (AI) systems”, in a report by Dawn.

Speaking at the Leap 2025 technology conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s Minister for Information Technology and Telecom, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, discussed what she saw as the “transformative impact of AI”, and pushed for “strong regulatory frameworks to ensure AI benefits all segments of society”. The Minister also called for that a global framework that ensured that any wide-scale rolling out of AI was done so with ethical standards to be incorporated and enforced – something that she said was a goal behind Pakistan’s own ongoing development of an AI policy.

The need to ensure that any usage of AI had a low carbon footprint was also raised - a matter of controversy, as one criticism among many regarding AI has been the drastic consumption of water and other energy resources by companies such as OpenAI in regards to AI.

February 10, 2025 - Comments Off on January 2025 Newsletter: National Privacy Conference 2025

January 2025 Newsletter: National Privacy Conference 2025

On January 29th, DRF held its annual National Privacy Conference. This year, the conference revolved around the theme of data protection to mark Data Protection Day. Panels discussed the state of voter data in the electoral process, the troubling gaps in regards to the safeguarding of said data, as well as the state of data protection legislation. They emphasized the dire need for holistic and proactive legislation, and how its absence puts the sensitive data of citizens at grave risk, at a time when societies are more data-driven than ever. Read our press release on the event here in English and Urdu.

Policy Initiatives:

Voter Data Privacy

The DRF Research team launched “Voter Data Privacy in Pakistan: Privacy Risks, Data Protection, and Legislative Shortcomings during Data-Driven Elections” during its National Privacy Conference held on January 29th. The report examines how voter data was handled or exploited by political parties, and how government agencies responsible for said data should operate, versus the reality experienced by voters. Access the report here.

 

 

Digital Nation Pakistan Bill (2024) Analysis and Recommendations

The DRF Research team alongside the Legal team shared a detailed analysis of the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill (2024) (now the DNP Act) with the IT Minister, Shaza Khawaja. This included concerns and recommendations grounded in a comprehensive review of digital ID systems in global jurisdictions, best practices for data privacy and protection, and commentary from civil society organisations.

Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (2025) Amendments Analysis

The DRF Research and Legal teams prepared a legal analysis of the recent controversial PECA Amendments. A summarised form of this and the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill (2024) analysis were shared with Senator Palwasha Khan as well. Both analyses are available on our website.

Digital Rights Tracker updates

The Digital Rights Tracker is a weekly updated repository that tracks cyber policy and digital rights issues pertaining to Pakistan. This month’s updates included the passage of the PECA Amendments Act 2025 and the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025, with the former the subject of much controversy, owing to the government not taking onboard concerns from rights organisations, journalists and other vital stakeholders.

TFGBV Increased Against Trans and Khwajasira Individuals

DRF team member Hyra Basit told Amnesty International South Asia how technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) has increased against trans and khawajasira individuals. See post here.

Press Coverage:

Awareness about PECA Amendments Act

DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad expressed her concern and criticism over the implications of the PECA amendments, passed in January. She wrote two op-eds in Geo News and The News about the potential impact these amendments have on free speech rights, and also did a detailed explainer with Geo News.

DRF, TLHC sign MoU to promote digital literacy

DRF and The Learning Hub College, Gujranwala (TLHC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaboratively promote digital rights and raise online safety awareness among students at TLHC and other institutions within its chain and The Jadeed Dastgir Ideal Schools.

 

Read the press release issued here.

 

 

NWJDR condemned harassment campaign against Asma Shirazi

On 10 January, the Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights (NWJDR) released a statement condemning the most recent instance of the ongoing harassment and gendered disinformation campaign against female journalist Asma Shirazi at the hands of prominent political party supporters, and political commentators and vloggers. Read the entire statement here.

NWJDR condemned harassment campaign against Asma Shirazi

On 10 January, the Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights (NWJDR) released a statement condemning the most recent instance of the ongoing harassment and gendered disinformation campaign against female journalist Asma Shirazi at the hands of prominent political party supporters, and political commentators and vloggers. Read the entire statement here.

Shanakht ka Muqadma (The Facets of Hate Speech) by SOC Films

SOC Films’ new episode in its Hate Speech docuseries was released featuring DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad, trans rights activists and other activists. The episode explored the targeted disinformation campaign against the 2018 Transgender (Protection of Rights) Act in Pakistan, leading to increased hate and violence against the community.

DRF was also mentioned in the following press coverage: 

Media Outlet Date Title
GNN 1 January 2025 DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad appeared on GNN
IFEX 6 January 2025 Asia-Pacific: Impunity, TV closures, and “entrenching state control over the internet”
Aaj News 9 January 2025 Slow internet may cause IT companies to relocate - Aaj News
Aaj News 9 January 2025 Internet slowdown, disruptions deal heavy blow to Pakistan’s IT industry
The Nation 10 January 2025 Afkar-e-Taza ThinkFest to open with focus on past and present dialogue
The News 12 January 2025 Town Talk
Dawn 12 January 2025 ‘Enough is enough’: Journalist Asma Shirazi condemns harassment campaign against her
Radio France Internationale (RFI) 12 January 2025 Education activist Malala returns to a region in crisis
Daily Times 12 January 2025 Afkar-e-Taaza ThinkFest 8th Edition (Day 2 Final)
WataugaDemocrat.com 12 January 2025 Education activist Malala returns to a region in crisis
Express Tribune 13 January 2025 Inclusive AI policies urged
The News 13 January 2025 ThinkFest 2025 concludes: Canadian diplomat stresses safe space for journalists
The Nation 13 January 2025 ‘Media literacy vital to fight back disinformation’
Phone World 17 January 2025 Virtual Shadows – How Gender Based Violence is Thriving Online in Pakistan?
T-Magazine 19 January 2025 Digital disconnect: the cost of Internet disruptions
Geo News 22 January 2025 ڈونلڈ ٹرمپ کے آنے سے ڈیجیٹل دنیا میں کیا تبدیلیاں متوقع ہیں؟
The Nation 22 January 2025 DRF, TLHC join forces to promote digital literacy and online safety for students
The News 23 January 2025 Peca amendments make bad law worse, say digital rights activists
Dawn 23 January 2025 NA passes controversial Peca amendment bill amid walkout by PTI, journalists
24NewsHD 23 January 2025 Govt Passed Controversial PECA Bill - Political Temperatures Spike - Goonj - 24 News HD
WeNews English 23 January 2025 Pakistan’s National Assembly Passes Cybercrime and Digital Identity Bills
Tribal News Network 26 January 2025 Bridging the Digital Divide: Women’s Struggles and Triumphs in Online Spaces
Geo News 28 January 2025 Peca's protection plan: Speak at your own risk
Dawn 28 January 2025 NewsEye Segment
Dawn 28 January 2025 Flaws In The PICA Act Amendment Bill: Nighat Dad’s In-Depth Analysis | Dawn News
Digital Journal 28 January 2025 Pakistan outlaws disinformation with 3-year jail term
Dawn 29 January 2025 President Zardari assents to Peca amendment law despite journalists’ calls to desist
The Nation 29 January 2025 National Privacy Conference 2025 highlights urgent need for stronger data protection laws in Pakistan
Geo News 29 January 2025 Chinese AI App DeepSeek Gaining Popularity Across Europe & the US | A New Tech Revolution
Geo News 29 January 2025 What is PECA Act 2025? - Nighat Dad Told Inside Story - Geo News
Capital TV 29 January 2025 Strict Social Media Control! | New Law Changes Everything – Alarm Bells Ringing | Nighat Dad
City 42 29 January 2025 ڈیجیٹل رائٹس فاؤنڈیشن کے زیر اہتمام نیشنل پرائیویسی کانفرنس کا اہتمام
The Nation 29 January 2025 National Privacy Conference 2025 highlights urgent need for stronger data protection laws in Pakistan
Lub Azad 29 January 2025 شہریوں کے لئےمحفوظ ڈیجیٹل مستقبل کے لئے جامع قانون سازی کی ضرورت
Independent Urdu 29 January 2025 نیا قانون پیکا ترمیمی ایکٹ متنازع کیوں ہے؟
Samaa 30 January 2025 Privacy conference discusses urgent need for data protection laws
Dawn 30 January 2025 Global data protection day marked
Samaa 30 January 2025 Privacy conference discusses urgent need for data protection laws

Events:

Nighat Dad at Thinkfest Pakistan

DRF has extensively researched harmful online content throughout 2024, be it gendered disinformation or platform accountability during Pakistan's elections.

With the recent spike in fake news, online hate speech and AI deepfakes, it's more important now than ever to learn how to navigate digital spaces. DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad joined this year’s Thinkfest (11-12 January) on two panels: “AI, Fake News, and the Fight for Digital Rights”, as well as “Advancing Media Literacy & Rights Online-Offline”.

 

 

 

High-Level Dialogue on Building Digital Safety | UNDP

On January 16, 2025, Nighat Dad spoke on the panel Platform Accountability: Social Media Safety Protocols and Civil Society Perspectives on TFGBV at a high-level dialogue in Islamabad. The event convened stakeholders to address TFGBV, emphasizing a national framework for prevention, prosecution, and protection against digital abuse.

AI Insights Workshop: Mastering reporting on new technologies

DRF conducted a one-day workshop with journalists and media practitioners on understanding and reporting on AI and emerging technologies on 3rd January in Islamabad. The event involved discussions on the societal impact of GenAI, ethical concerns, evolving trends, as well as topics around digital security and DRF’s Cyber Harassment Helpline.

Asian Development Bank Digital Citizen Workshop

DRF participated in the Asian Development Bank’s Digital Citizen Workshop on 30th January in Islamabad. The collaborative workshop brought together representatives from various organizations to discuss what a digital citizen should look like in Pakistan and how it can be made possible under the state’s Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2025.

Other events:

  • DRF conducted a one-day training on TFGBV for Bangladeshi early-career journalists, activists, researchers, and lawyers, participating in a fellowship hosted by Bangladeshi digital rights organization, Digitally Right, on 15th January in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  • From 22-25 January, DRF conducted a dynamic series of training sessions, bringing together journalists, civil society representatives, religious and gender minorities, and lawyers. Focused on digital safety and legal recourse, these sessions aimed to equip stakeholders with the knowledge and tools to navigate Pakistan’s evolving digital landscape securely and effectively.
  • DRF’s legal associate attended a dissemination session on "Doing Digital for Development: Digitalizing Law, Democratizing Justice" organized by CODE Pakistan and UNDP in Lahore on 23rd January. This event highlighted the findings of UNDP’s recently launched National Human Development Report 2024 on “Doing Digital for Development: Access, Adopt, Anticipate, and Accelerate”.
  • DRF’s legal team participated in a law conference hosted by BCP Liberty Law and Human Rights Society on “The Legal Implications Regarding Digital Rights Protection in Light of Artificial Intelligence” on 24th January at Beaconhouse Liberty Campus, Lahore. Legal professionals and AI researchers explored the challenges and legal frameworks necessary to protect privacy, intellectual property, and online security in an AI-driven world.

Tech trends and tips:

New tech and platform developments:

Changes to Meta’s policies: On January 7, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued a statement regarding changes to Meta’s content moderation policy. Citing a “cultural tipping point towards prioritising free speech,” Zuckerberg announced that Meta was removing its third-party fact checking model, and moving to a Community Notes model, similar to X’s. Meta is also loosening restrictions on content moderation of topics like gender identity and immigration, and moving its trust and safety and content moderation team from California to Texas.

DeepSeek AI: On 20 January, Chinese artificial intelligence firm Deepseek released its latest, cutting-edge R1 LLM at a fraction of the cost of competitors, including its direct competitor, OpenAI's o1 model. This sent a tidal wave through the U.S. stock market, with the Silicon Valley tech giant NVIDIA facing considerable losses. Aside from the financial shock, this development also causes geopolitical concerns within the U.S. over AI market dominance, being compared to the Soviet Union's overtaking the U.S. in the 1950s space race.

Tip of the month: Messaging and Email

There are many messaging apps like Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Viber, but not all prioritize privacy. Experts recommend Signal for human rights defenders due to its open-source nature, end-to-end encryption, and zero data tracking. Unlike WhatsApp, Signal stores backups locally and doesn’t sync messages across devices.

While WhatsApp also offers encryption, the app’s backups on Google Drive or iCloud remain unencrypted, making them vulnerable. This is why Signal is a better choice for privacy-centric communication.

Similarly, for secure email, ProtonMail is highly recommended. It provides automatic encryption for emails sent between ProtonMail users. For non-Proton users, a phrase-protected encryption method ensures privacy. With apps available on Android and iOS, ProtonMail is easy to use like Gmail or Outlook with prioritizing security.

DRF Resources:

Cyber Harassment Helpline:

The Cyber Harassment Helpline received 191 complaints in January 2025, of which 166 were related to cyber harassment.

In January, an incident also became known in which scammers were using number spoofing software to impersonate state authorities and get sensitive information.

If you encounter such a problem, 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.

 

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/

February 7, 2025 - Comments Off on Internet Disruptions and Shutdowns In January

Internet Disruptions and Shutdowns In January

Between January 11 and February 7, 2025, Pakistan continued to experience internet disruptions and censorship, as well as policy developments that severely impacted digital rights. Major cities like Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore saw heightened restrictions, with social media throttling and content censorship, particularly during political protests and demonstrations. Journalists and digital rights activists faced increasing pressure as the government introduced stricter regulations on online content.

The passage of a controversial law criminalizing “misleading” online content sparked nationwide protests, led by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). Meanwhile, ongoing internet slowdowns forced several multinational companies to reconsider operations in Pakistan, raising concerns about economic impacts.

February 6, 2025 - Comments Off on Statement by the Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights

Statement by the Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights

5 February, 2025: The Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights unequivocally condemns the vile and orchestrated campaign of threats and targeted disinformation against senior journalist and anchor Munizae Jahangir by extremist elements. Jahangir, a journalist of exceptional integrity, is facing a brazen assault from individuals who flagrantly violate the law with impunity. This escalating pattern of intimidation is not just an attack on her; it is a direct assault on press freedom and the fundamental right of journalists to carry out their professional duties without fear.

It is outrageous that despite these threats being widely circulated on social media and well known to the relevant authorities, those responsible for upholding the law have remained silent. The failure of law enforcement agencies to act not only emboldens these extremist actors, but also reinforces a dangerous precedent where journalists can be targeted without consequence.

We demand immediate and decisive action. The perpetrators must be identified, legal action must be taken, and Munizae Jahangir must be provided with urgent and robust protection. This culture of impunity must not be allowed to persist.

The journalistic community stands in unwavering solidarity with Jahangir, making it clear that neither intimidation nor disinformation campaigns against journalists will succeed in silencing those dedicated to truth and justice. Any failure to act will be seen as complicity in this attack on press freedom.