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March 31, 2026 - Comments Off on Court Records Testimonies in Ongoing Sana Yousuf Murder Trial

Court Records Testimonies in Ongoing Sana Yousuf Murder Trial

A district and sessions court in Islamabad recorded statements from key witnesses, including the mother, father, and maternal aunt of Sana Yousuf, as proceedings continued in her murder trial. The victim’s mother testified about the events of the day, identifying the accused and detailing the circumstances surrounding the incident. The court also completed cross-examinations of other family members, bringing the total number of recorded witness statements to 28. The case has drawn attention to issues of gender-based violence and the importance of due process, with further hearings scheduled as the prosecution continues to present evidence.

 

March 31, 2026 - Comments Off on PhD Scholar Seeks Bail in Cybercrime Case Under PECA

PhD Scholar Seeks Bail in Cybercrime Case Under PECA

Canadian national and Pakistani PhD scholar Hamza Ahmad Khan has approached the Lahore High Court seeking post-arrest bail in a cybercrime case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016. His earlier bail applications were rejected by both a judicial magistrate and a sessions court. The petition argues that the case is fabricated and politically motivated, alleging unlawful abduction and lack of evidence by the prosecution. It further states that bail should be granted as a right, particularly in the absence of credible proof and risk of evidence tampering. The case highlights ongoing concerns around the application of cybercrime laws in Pakistan and their implications for due process and digital rights.

March 30, 2026 - Comments Off on Pakistan Joins Sovereign AI White Paper Launch at Beijing Forum

Pakistan Joins Sovereign AI White Paper Launch at Beijing Forum

The Pakistani Embassy in China participated in the launch of a sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) white paper at the Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing, alongside representatives from several countries including China, Brazil, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan. The document emphasizes national control over AI systems, data, and infrastructure, while encouraging international cooperation on governance and deployment. Pakistan’s Tech Affairs Counsellor highlighted the country’s interest in collaborative AI development, particularly in adapting technologies to local needs and expanding partnerships with Chinese firms. The initiative reflects growing global attention toward “sovereign AI” as countries seek greater control over critical digital infrastructure, data security, and technological independence.

March 30, 2026 - Comments Off on DeepSeek Chatbot Faces Longest Outage Amid Growing AI Reliance

DeepSeek Chatbot Faces Longest Outage Amid Growing AI Reliance

China’s DeepSeek AI chatbot experienced its longest recorded outage on Monday, lasting over seven hours, raising concerns about the reliability of rapidly scaling AI systems. The disruption affected both general users and developers relying on its API services, though the company did not disclose the cause. While previous outages had impacted developer services, this marked the first major extended disruption for public-facing users. The incident comes at a time when global dependence on AI tools is increasing, highlighting vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure and the potential risks of outages in critical technology systems.

March 30, 2026 - Comments Off on PMDC Takes Action Over Filming of Patients During Surgery at Lahore Hospital

PMDC Takes Action Over Filming of Patients During Surgery at Lahore Hospital

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has taken notice of a widely circulated video showing patients being filmed during surgery at Lahore’s Lady Willingdon Hospital, raising serious concerns about patient dignity and confidentiality. The footage, allegedly recorded inside an operating theatre, appeared to show medical staff engaging in unprofessional conduct while filming procedures without consent. In response, the Punjab government suspended multiple staff members, including senior doctors and nurses. PMDC has issued notices to those involved, emphasizing that recording patients in such settings constitutes a serious breach of medical ethics and patient rights. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has reinforced a strict ban on photography and videography within hospital premises without official approval, underscoring the need to uphold professional standards and protect patient privacy.

March 30, 2026 - Comments Off on Fake AI Detection Tools Raise New Disinformation Risks

Fake AI Detection Tools Raise New Disinformation Risks

As concerns over AI-generated content grow, researchers are warning about a new wave of fraudulent AI detection tools that falsely label authentic content as machine-generated. Investigations found that several tools, including JustDone AI, TextGuard, and Refinely, incorrectly flagged human-written text, including news reports and literary works, as AI-generated, while prompting users to pay fees to “humanise” the content. Experts say these tools not only produce unreliable results but may also be deliberately designed to monetise misinformation. The misuse of such detectors risks damaging reputations, undermining trust in verification systems, and enabling a growing disinformation tactic known as the “liar’s dividend,” where authentic content is dismissed as fake.

March 30, 2026 - Comments Off on PCB Fines Naseem Shah Rs20 Million Over Social Media Policy Violation

PCB Fines Naseem Shah Rs20 Million Over Social Media Policy Violation

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has fined fast bowler Naseem Shah Rs20 million for violating clauses of his central contract and media policy following a controversial social media post. The post, which briefly appeared on his account, criticised the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz at a Pakistan Super League match before being deleted and attributed to a management team error. After reviewing his response and apology, a disciplinary committee concluded that contract violations had occurred, leading to the penalty. The incident has sparked debate around professional conduct, athlete expression, and the growing scrutiny of social media use by public figures in Pakistan.

March 28, 2026 - Comments Off on Pakistan Plans App-Based Fuel Subsidy System for Low-Income Users

Pakistan Plans App-Based Fuel Subsidy System for Low-Income Users

The government has announced plans to introduce a mobile application-based system to deliver targeted fuel subsidies to low-income consumers amid ongoing energy challenges. The initiative will use digital vouchers and QR code verification to distribute subsidised petrol through designated nozzles at fuel stations, primarily for two- and three-wheelers. Users will be allocated fixed monthly quotas linked to their CNIC and vehicle registration, ensuring controlled and transparent distribution. To support implementation, around 24,000 mobile devices will be deployed across petrol pumps nationwide. Officials say the system aims to replace blanket subsidies with targeted support, improve efficiency, and reduce misuse, while leveraging digital infrastructure to manage fuel distribution more effectively.

March 28, 2026 - Comments Off on Coordinated Disinformation Network Targeting Pakistan Exposed

Coordinated Disinformation Network Targeting Pakistan Exposed

A coordinated disinformation campaign targeting Pakistan has been uncovered, involving fake Iranian identities and networks allegedly operated from India and Afghanistan. The operation used a structured model, initiator, proliferator and amplifier, to spread false narratives portraying Pakistan as aligned with Western interests and hostile to Iran. Investigations revealed that initial content was created through fake accounts, while amplification was carried out through networks designed to simulate Iranian public opinion. Among the claims circulated were allegations that Pakistan was facilitating oil transport for the United States. Experts warn that such coordinated campaigns are part of broader information warfare strategies aimed at undermining regional trust, influencing public perception, and escalating geopolitical tensions.

March 26, 2026 - Comments Off on February 2026: DRF Launches Regional, Collaborative Research on Feminist Helplines

February 2026: DRF Launches Regional, Collaborative Research on Feminist Helplines

Regional Engagements & Domestic Initiatives

Webinar – The Feminist Helpline Research Initiative

On 12 February, we hosted a regional webinar to launch our latest, cross-border research project: the Feminist Helpline Research Initiative. Moderated by DRF’s Hyra Basit, the panel featured Denuka Jayasinghe from Hashtag Generation; Siddarth Pillai from Rati Foundation; Anaïs from TCM; and Sara Imran from the Digital Rights Foundation. The webinar discussed TFGBV trends in various regions across the globe, challenges faced by helplines when reporting and escalating cases, as well as where platforms fail when it comes to fighting TFGBV.

Our Latest Research & Advocacy:

The Feminist Helpline Research Initiative

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is an escalating global crisis in online spaces today. In the face of this crisis, feminist helplines are emerging as a critical form of digital safety infrastructure globally. DRF, in partnership with the Social Web Foundation (SWF), conducted research using mixed-methods approach to gain insights through survey questions and in-depth interviews with 14 helplines across the world in regions such as Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa to document the lived experiences of feminist helplines, analyze the effectiveness of their reporting mechanisms and identify gaps in platform accountability. Our findings show that there has been an increase in abuse patterns which commonly include intimate image abuse, impersonation, and sextortion. Additionally, platforms fail due to inadequate and untimely responses to reports and escalation requests, a lack of understanding of cultural sensitivities and nuances, and inconsistent enforcement mechanisms across similar issues. We also found how approximately 92% of helplines have felt the need to resort to personal contacts for escalations.

Press Coverage

Pakistan’s AI Reality Check

The DRF Founder joined DigiPod host Usama Khilji for a conversation on how AI is changing the digital space by invisibilising harms and making accountability more difficult. Watch here as Nighat talks through deepfakes, AI-generated abuse, and the importance of guardrails such as strong data protection.

Is Pakistan Ready for the Rollout of AI Into Education?

For Dunya News, Incident Response and Research Analyst Ayesha Babar highlights Pakistan’s distinct vulnerabilities when it comes to the adoption of AI in governance and public services, the most pressing concern being data protection laws. Read the full piece here.

Events

Consultation Session on the National Policy to Combat Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA)

Minahil Farooq from the DRF legal team represented DRF at a consultation on 09 February 2026 at the Punjab Safe City Authority, focused on shaping the National Policy to Combat Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA). The session was organized by the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) in collaboration with the British High Commission and Adam Smith International. Bringing together key stakeholders from across sectors, the consultation sparked critical conversations on emerging online risks faced by children and strengthened collective commitment toward robust policy responses centered on prevention, protection, and accountability.

Focus Group Discussion on Digital Space, Planning, and Direction of Pakistan at QAU

Anam Baloch, Programs Lead at Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), participated in a Focus Group Discussion on Digital Space, Planning, and Direction of Pakistan hosted by the School of Economics at Quaid-i-Azam University in collaboration with Jafri Development Lab, Accountability Lab, and DDI South Asia. The discussion brought together stakeholders to explore strategies for strengthening digital citizenship, civic engagement, and inclusive participation in Pakistan’s digital ecosystem. During the session, Anam shared insights from DRF’s work on digital rights, highlighting the importance of digital literacy, rights-based policy approaches, and accessible tools that enable citizens to engage safely and meaningfully online.

Digital Literacy Training with Beaconhouse Students

We conducted a digital literacy training session with 50 girls at Beaconhouse School (Liberty Campus). The session focused on key topics including the distinction between bullying and cyberbullying, the importance of consent, gender stereotyping, and maintaining privacy on social media platforms. The students were also informed about the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) law, DRF’s Digital Security Helpline and the support it offers, and guided them on reporting procedures at the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

Tech Trends

UpScrolled: New Palestinian-Owned Social App Tops Global Downloads

UpScrolled, an alternative platform by Palestinian technologist Issam Hijazi, topped download charts in the US, UK, and Australia. Launched to counter "shadowbans" and censorship during the Gaza conflict, the app offers chronological feeds and human-led moderation. Hijazi self-financed the project to ensure independence from corporate agendas. The platform’s rise coincides with shifting TikTok ownership and claims of increased content restriction. Despite server surges, UpScrolled seeks to restore authentic social connection without political or commercial throttling. It ranks eighth in Pakistan, appealing to users seeking a censorship-free digital space for global advocacy and diverse content.

Tip of the Month

WhatsApp has introduced a new “Strict Account Settings” feature designed to help users protect themselves against sophisticated cyber threats and targeted attacks. This optional, lockdown-style mode allows you to instantly apply the most restrictive privacy configurations with just a few taps.

It’s especially valuable for anyone who wants extra protection beyond standard encryption including public figures, journalists, or users concerned about targeted cyberattacks.

You can enable this feature by opening WhatsApp

  • Go to Settings → Privacy → Advanced
  • Turning on Strict Account Settings.

When enabled, the feature automatically

  • blocks attachments and media from people not in your contacts
  • silences calls from unknown numbers
  • limits settings that could expose your account

These measures reduce the risk of malicious files, phishing attempts, and unsolicited contact attempts from unknown senders.

DRF Resources:

Digital Security Helpline

The Digital Security Helpline received 270 complaints in February 2026, of which 240 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: (Comms + Legal)

DRF’s Legal team processed six (6) complaints in February 2026, all  involving women, all related to cyber harassment.

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/