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January 1, 2025 - Comments Off on 2 VPN Providers have registered with PTA

2 VPN Providers have registered with PTA

Hashtag: #VPN

Contrary to reports circulating at the end of 2024, the PTA has reported that two VPN
service providers have applied for VPN licenses in Pakistan, as part of the government’s
“localised” VPN scheme, with their applications under review. The PTA was unable to ban
unregistered VPNs after the Ministry of Law issued a legal opinion stating that the PECA’s
articles on social media did not cover “tools” used to access said platforms, and introduced
localised VPN registration as a means of bypassing this issue. Promoted as a means of
striking a “balance” between cybersecurity and privacy, rights organisations and citizens
have relayed concerns that “localised” VPNs, with user data stored in Pakistan, runs the
risk of giving PTA and the government more powers to monitor users, negating the basis
for VPN usage in the first place, particularly if sensitive information is being shared.

December 24, 2024 - Comments Off on Bilawal advocate “bill of rights” for digital age

Bilawal advocate “bill of rights” for digital age

It is time to draft a “digital bill of rights”, said PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, in an attempt to create further space between him and the government regarding the latter’s controversial direction regarding VPNs and internet disruptions in recent months.

Though he agreed that security measures should be taken to tackle disinformation and misinformation, Bhutto-Zardari said that “babus and politicians sitting in Islamabad do not understand” the internet, and that the government was seeking to control people “in the shape [of controlling] bandwidth, optical fibre and wireless internet.”

Calling upon young people to contribute to and develop a draft “bill of rights”,  Bhutto-Zardari said that he would table the draft in the National Assembly once the draft had been prepared through a consultative process.

“I will believe access to the internet should be declared a fundamental right, like [the right to a clean] environment was declared a fundamental right in the 26th amendment. Affordable, equitable access to high speed internet should be a fundamental right,” said  Bhutto-Zardari.

December 24, 2024 - Comments Off on Govt Introduces new localised VPN Scheme

Govt Introduces new localised VPN Scheme

Unsuccessful in its previous attempts to register and penalise unregistered VPNs, owing to a lack of legal support, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has introduced a new licensing category, in the hope that it will boot registrations of VPNs. According to Dawn, a press release by the PTA states that “VPN service providers are required to obtain Class Licence for Data (Data Services) to provide VPN and related services,” so that local  internet service providers will, in theory, be able to provide VPN and other forms of proxy services to their users.

The “localised” registrations of VPNs was floated by P@SHA, arguing that this would help Pakistan’s freelancers, impacted ongoing internet disruptions. Companies that plan to provide localised VPN services would pay PTA a licence fee – PKR 300,000 to offer nationwide services, PKR 100,000 to do within one province – with the licence lasting 15 years, subject to renewal. As rights activists and tech experts point out, however, the localisation strategy is a “futile exercise”, as it gives more surveillance powers to authorities and negates the whole purpose of VPNs – which could discourage users and international entities, both of whom would just switch to other options.

December 23, 2024 - Comments Off on Bilawal criticises internet restrictions, advocates for digital rights amid government tensions

Bilawal criticises internet restrictions, advocates for digital rights amid government tensions

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari criticised recent internet slowdowns and restrictions this Monday, describing them as efforts to control and censor citizens. Users have reported sluggish speeds and difficulties accessing platforms, which digital analysts attribute to government testing of a ‘firewall’ capable of monitoring and blocking content. The government claims these measures are part of a 'web management system' upgrade for enhanced cybersecurity. This issue has intensified tensions between the PPP and the federal government, with senior PPP officials expressing a lack of confidence in the government's actions. Addressing a convocation at Sindh University, Bilawal emphasised the need for a "digital bill of rights" to ensure equitable access to high-speed internet, labeling it a fundamental human right. He urged youth involvement in drafting this bill to safeguard digital freedoms and counter misinformation.

 

His comments echo concerns raised by PPP members of the National Assembly (MNAs) on December 18th, regarding the impact of internet disruptions and the firewall on Pakistani citizens.

December 22, 2024 - Comments Off on Government official urges Pakistanis to “use internet less” in response to slow internet speeds

Government official urges Pakistanis to “use internet less” in response to slow internet speeds

People should “use the internet less” and for “important matters only”, said Parliamen­tary Secretary for Cabinet Secretariat Sajid Mehdi, speaking with Dawn News, as a proposed solution to recent internet slowdowns. Mr. Mehdi compared the internet to a road, remarking that the more users that were on the internet, the slower it would become, much like a congested road. The Parliamentary Secretary also cited the low capacity of Pakistan’s fibre network - 15%, compared to India’s 45% - as another key factor. His comments arrive in a climate of Pakistanis experiencing lagging internet speeds for the past few months, which has caused major financial losses as noted by P@SHA, Pakistan’s trade body for the IT sector. When told that the parliament had been informed of these losses, he responded, “We have not been told officially that the shutdown has caused financial losses. Nobody has filed any requests or complaints about financial losses.”

December 20, 2024 - Comments Off on NADRA to roll out national facial biometrics in 2025”

NADRA to roll out national facial biometrics in 2025”

Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will be rolling out facial biometric verification via NADRA registration centres and the Pak-IK mobile app, starting from January 15, 2025. The initiative arose out of a consultative conference held by NADRA and other regulatory bodies, to discuss biometric and identity verification advances, and how Pakistan’s government can update its own systems. According to NADRA’s chairman, who spoke at the conference, incorporating newer technologies such as facial biometrics would aid the elderly and other groups that may have difficulty with the current system, whether due to faded fingerprinted or other issues.

Conference participants also discussed the potential of iris recognition as a prospective identity verification tool in the future, as well as the National Registration and Biometric Policy Framework.

December 19, 2024 - Comments Off on Internet disruptions could “persist indefinitely”

Internet disruptions could “persist indefinitely”

The government is unable to “give a time frame” as to when the internet will face a reduction in disruptions, including shutdowns and throttling, said Parliamen­tary Secretary for Cabinet Secretariat Sajid Mehdi, this Wednesday. Speaking during “Question Hour”, Secretary Mehdi stated that ongoing internet disruptions were due to measures being taken by the Interior Ministry to strengthen security measures, which was why neither “the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) nor the cabinet division” could provide a clear timeline.

 

Members of the National Assembly raised concerns about the impact of the state of internet disruption, causing billions in rupees in terms of business losses, academic activities being impacted, as well the inability to open images, video or voice-based messages in WhatsApp. While some conceded the need for security, and condemned “the use of digital space for terrorism and harassment”, questions were asked as to what is taking so long regarding the national “firewall”, and, in regards to proposed legislation such as the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, “[what] digital Pakistan are we talking about when there is no internet facility?”

December 19, 2024 - Comments Off on DRF researchers comment on increasing internet censorship in Pakistan

DRF researchers comment on increasing internet censorship in Pakistan

Pakistan is experiencing a rise in internet censorship, with bans and restrictions becoming increasingly sophisticated, a recent piece by Index on Censorship discussed. DRF researcher and activist Anam Baloch highlighted how these measures often go undetected, as entire platforms are not always blocked.

“Recently, WhatsApp and Instagram issues were reported but when we tested [them] on OONI [Open Observatory of Network Interference] they were fine because they were not blocking entire platforms,” Baloch told Index.

DRF researcher Seerat Khan warned that such restrictions are likely to escalate, reflecting global authoritarian trends. “These restrictions will only increase. They aren’t something that will go away with time,” she said. Khan emphasised that freedom of expression is intrinsically tied to other fundamental rights like access to information and freedom of assembly. “All these freedoms are under attack,” she added. With growing constraints, there’s diminishing space to challenge these measures, leaving citizens with fewer avenues for resistance.

December 19, 2024 - Comments Off on Digital Nation Pakistan Bill deferred for further deliberation

Digital Nation Pakistan Bill deferred for further deliberation

Emphasising its importance, “The Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, 2024” was postponed by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology & Telecommunication on Monday for further deliberations. The committee discussed the Bill at length under the Chairmanship of Syed Amin-ul-Haq, MNA at the Ministry of IT&T. The Chairman stated that all committee members wanted sufficient time to discuss the Bill, and invited members to share their thoughts and concerns. Shaza Fatima Khawaja mentioned the importance of digitalisation for Pakistan, noting that technology does not wait for anyone. Some parliamentarians called for expert involvement and greater transparency with stakeholder consultations. It was highlighted by the State Minister for IT&T that National Digitalisation is a complicated and expensive project, involving international commitments, making it necessary for each step of the process to be followed through in a timely manner.

December 18, 2024 - Comments Off on DRF highlights disinformation on platforms during 2024 elections in new report

DRF highlights disinformation on platforms during 2024 elections in new report

Digital Rights Foundation has released its latest report, “Platforms At The Polls”, examining social media’s role during Pakistan’s 2024 General Elections. The report focuses on TikTok, Facebook/Instagram, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter), analysing political ad spending and harmful content from November 2023 to March 2024.

 

Political parties spent a collective PKR 54 million on Meta platforms, with PTI leading at PKR 25 million. However, transparency around ad spending was limited to Meta, as other platforms offered no details on this subject. The report also documented 225 instances of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and disinformation, with PML-N targeted in 76 gendered disinformation posts, followed by PTI (61) and PPP (19).

 

The report found that the platforms reviewed failed to adequately enforce content moderation. DRF urges tech companies to prioritise fair practices globally, especially outside the Global North, to combat disinformation and promote electoral integrity.

 

The full report is available to read at https://digitalrightsfoundation.pk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Platforms-at-the-Polls.pdf.