Over 5,000 cases handled by Digital Rights Foundation’s Helpline in 18 months as hacking, deepfake abuse, blackmail and sextortion emerge as major threats

Lahore, 14 May 2026: Today, Digital Rights Foundation released a major new report titled Digital Threats Against At-Risk Communities in Pakistan, documenting the scale and severity of online violence faced by women, trans women, journalists, lawyers, religious minorities, and human rights defenders across Pakistan.

Drawing on data from DRF’s flagship, survivor-centred Digital Security Helpline, the report analyses the 5,041 new cases handled between May 2024 and December 2025 and reveals a deeply gendered and identity-based landscape of digital harm. 

The findings show that women and trans women in Pakistan are increasingly being targeted through hacking, image-based abuse including AI-generated deepfakes, blackmail, sextortion, and coordinated online harassment campaigns often designed to silence, isolate, intimidate, or socially punish survivors.

The report further warns that digital threats in Pakistan are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader structural failure in which vulnerable communities are left exposed by slow platform responses, inaccessible security infrastructure, and cybercrime systems that frequently fail survivors. 

Among the report’s key findings:

• Women and trans women faced the highest rates of hacking, image-based abuse, blackmail, and sextortion
• Survivors frequently reported coordinated harassment and platform inaction during crisis situations
• 92% of surveyed complainants reported reduced risk after receiving support from DRF’s helpline
• 64% received an initial response within minutes
• Major barriers to digital safety were not lack of awareness, but affordability, device limitations, internet shutdowns, and unresponsive platforms

The report also evaluates the effectiveness and usability of digital security tools recommended during active incidents, including MalwareBytes, OONI, HTTPS Everywhere, and LastPass. The findings reveal that many widely recommended tools do not account for the realities faced by users in the Global South, including low-bandwidth environments, unstable connectivity, language accessibility gaps, and cost barriers.

DRF is calling on Pakistan’s cybercrime and law enforcement institutions, particularly the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), to adopt survivor-centred and gender-sensitive procedures with transparent timelines and protections against retaliation. The organisation is also urging social media platforms to establish emergency reporting systems with guaranteed response timelines and anti-amplification measures to limit the spread of harmful content during review periods.

“Deepfakes, hacking, sextortion and coordinated abuse have become tools of control against women and marginalised communities in Pakistan,” DRF Founder Nighat Dad said. “Digital violence is not only virtual. It is actively reshaping people’s safety, careers, and ability to participate in public life.”

Available to read online here, the report further calls on global technology companies and digital security tool developers to build tools designed for the realities of the Global South, including offline-first functionality, low-bandwidth compatibility, regional language support, and subsidised emergency access for frontline defenders and vulnerable users.

About DRF’s Digital Security Helpline

The Digital Security Helpline (formerly the Cyber Harassment Helpline) has been providing free, confidential digital security support since 2016 for individuals facing online harassment, hacking, image-based abuse, doxxing, impersonation, and other forms of digital threats.

Toll-free helpline: 0800-39393
Email: helpdesk@digitalrightsfoundation.pk
Digital Rights Foundation Website

Lahore, Pakistan — 14 April 2026: The Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) has released its 2025 annual report for its flagship, survivor-centered Digital Security Helpline revealing a troubling rise in cases involving minors alongside a sustained surge in cyber harassment and critical access barriers to justice across Pakistan.

In 2025, the Helpline received 3,012 new complaints, with an additional 776 follow-ups. On average, survivors reported 250 cases per month, including 2,586 instances of cyber harassment. This brings the number of cases the Helpline has received since its inception in 2016 to a total of 23,032. 

The report highlights a 28% increase in cases involving minors following a 51% increase in 2024, rising to 159 reported cases in 2025 from 124 cases in 2024. Particularly concerning are cases involving children aged 6 to 9, who, while representing a small percentage (0.23%) of total complaints, face severe risks including online grooming, sexual abuse, and digital exploitation. This rise signals a deepening child safety crisis driven by increased digital exposure and insufficient safeguards. DRF underscores the urgent need for parental supervision, school-based digital literacy, and child protection mechanisms to mitigate these risks.

Adults aged 18 to 30 accounted for 51.3% of all complaints, reflecting high digital engagement and awareness of reporting mechanisms. Women continued to bear the brunt of online abuse, reporting 1,709 cases, compared to 1,279 reported by men. Women reported higher rates across all major categories of tech-facilitated violence, including non-consensual intimate image (NCII) abuse, blackmail, and sextortion. Men reported higher only in financial fraud cases (469 cases compared to 203 reported by women). The Helpline also received a notable number of cases from vulnerable and high-risk groups, including 159 minors; 94 journalists and media practitioners; 52 human rights defenders; and 24 individuals from religious and ethnic minorities. These figures highlight the intersection of digital violence with professional, social, and identity-based vulnerabilities.

Across cases reported in Pakistan, Punjab accounted for 69.5% of cases, reflecting both population size and better access to reporting mechanisms. Significantly lower reporting rates were observed in Balochistan (3%), Azad Kashmir (0.6%), and Gilgit-Baltistan (0.26%), indicating persistent gaps in awareness, infrastructure, and access. Notably, the Helpline also saw a 20% increase in international cases, receiving 75 complaints from 30 countries across six continents, compared to 25 countries in 2024.

The report also identifies generative AI as an emerging threat to safety online. As DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad notes: “We are entering a phase where AI is scaling harm at speed. Nearly one in four women globally are already experiencing AI-enabled abuse, while our own data shows a 28% rise in cases involving minors including children as young as six. This should set off alarm bells. When emerging technologies intersect with already weak protection systems, it is children and women who pay the price. Without urgent intervention, we are normalizing a future where abuse is automated, amplified, and harder to escape.” Major platforms also remain central to online abuse; in 2025, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram accounted for 53% of cases, down from 57.4% in 2024. WhatsApp alone accounted for 34%, underscoring the growing risks associated with private, encrypted platforms. Features like disappearing messages and “view once” media continue to hinder evidence collection and accountability.

Crucially, despite 79% of cyber harassment cases being referred to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for legal intervention, access to justice remains severely constrained. Only 51% of reported cyber harassment cases originated from cities with operational cybercrime offices, forcing many survivors to travel long distances. A total of 892 complaints were received from cities without NCCIA offices, highlighting systemic accessibility challenges. While online complaint portals exist, they often require in-person verification, creating significant barriers, particularly for survivors in rural and remote areas. As DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad notes, the Digital Rights Foundation has worked tirelessly to bridge this gap: “Even in times of institutional uncertainty, we have remained committed to sustaining the Helpline as a lifeline for individuals facing technology-facilitated harm. Our role has been to provide not only technical guidance and platform support, but also empathy, clarity, and pathways to protection.”

In response to institutional shortcomings, DRF expanded its legal support in 2025, assisting 143 cases through its legal team, conducting 30 court and NCCIA office visits, and directly supporting 68 survivors through in-person processes.

The report concludes with urgent recommendations. For LEAs (Law Enforcement Agencies), it is imperative to strengthen technical capacity, improve reporting systems for minors, and integrate psychological support services. In the same vein, policymakers must strengthen data protection laws and prioritise bridging the digital gender divide by investing in nationwide digital literacy initiatives. Social media platforms must also prioritize reports from trusted partners and enhance reporting tools, and improve AI moderation for local contexts.

The Digital Rights Foundation’s Digital Security Helpline is accessible via its toll-free number 0800-39393, through DRF’s social media platforms, and over email at helpdesk@digitalrightsfoundation.pk. The Helpline operates Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.

January 14, 2026, Islamabad: Today, Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) convened a high-level national roundtable on Emerging Technologies in Pakistan, bringing together over 40 stakeholders from the government, media, civil society, international organisations, and the technology sector to confront the growing gap between rapid technological adoption and human rights protections in the country.

Held in Islamabad with support from the European Union, the roundtable marked the launch of DRF’s new position paper, “Emerging Technologies in Pakistan: Towards a People-Centred Policy Framework,” grounded in extensive research across all of Pakistan. The research reveals a stark governance vacuum: while Pakistan’s National AI Policy 2025 prioritises innovation and growth, it lacks enforceable safeguards to protect rights, allowing monitoring, censorship, algorithmic bias, and technology-facilitated harms to flourish unchecked.

Drawing on 11 focus group discussions with 79 participants, 60 survey responses, and expert interviews, the study captures how people on the ground are already experiencing the impacts of AI. 65 percent of participants feared loss of privacy, 63 percent expressed concern about disinformation, and half worried about AI-enabled monitoring. Despite 84 percent of Pakistani newsrooms using AI tools, only 12 have formal policies guiding ethical use.

Research participants also shared alarming real-world examples, including women targeted by AI-generated deepfakes, AI-fuelled disinformation exacerbating sectarian violence in Kurram, and journalists relying on tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E while fearing job displacement and automation bias. Many expressed a sense of fatalism: “AI is already here; we just have to deal with it.”

The roundtable brought together representatives from, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, the Ministry of Human Rights, PTA, NCCIA, NCHR, NCRC, leading media houses, journalist unions, civil society organisations, UN agencies, diplomatic missions, and the tech sector. The EU Delegation to Pakistan was represented by Mr Jeroen Willems, Head of Cooperation, underscoring the importance of international partnership in rights-based digital governance. He commented:

“DRF’s research and convening role are particularly important in grounding policy discussions in local realities and lived experiences, especially those of journalists, civil society actors, and marginalised communities who are often most impacted by these technologies.”

Speaking of the event, DRF Founder Nighat Dad remarked:

“Pakistan cannot afford to treat AI as inevitable or copy-paste Global North regulations. We need governance built from the margins; centering journalists facing censorship, women targeted by deepfakes, and workers displaced by automation. A people-centred approach is not optional: it is urgent.”

The discussion concluded with a clear consensus: Pakistan must move beyond techno-solutionism towards human rights-centred, participatory governance rooted in Global South realities. Immediate priorities identified include mandatory human rights impact assessments for AI deployments, passage of long-delayed data protection legislation, transparent content moderation frameworks, participatory AI oversight bodies, protections for journalists and workers, and environmental accountability for AI infrastructure.

The full position paper, Emerging Technologies in Pakistan: Towards a People-Centred Policy Framework, available here, offers concrete recommendations for policymakers, regulators, media organisations, and technology actors to ensure that innovation serves people, not power.

For media inquiries, interviews, or access to the position paper, please contact:
Vaneeza Jawad, Communications and Engagement Manager at the Digital Rights Foundation
+923008486945
vaneeza@digitalrightsfoundation.pk

پریس ریلیز

24 اپریل، 2025

لاہور: ڈیجیٹل رائٹس فاؤنڈیشن(ڈی آر ایف) کی ہیلپ لائن نے 2024 کے موقع پراپنی آٹھویں سالانہ رپورٹ جاری کی ہے، جو "انٹرنیشنل گرلز ان آئی سی ٹی ڈے" کے موقع پر پیش کی گئی۔ یہ رپورٹ ہیلپ لائن کے اس مشن کی یاد دہانی ہے کہ ڈیجیٹل دنیا کو نوجوان لڑکیوں اور آنے والی نسلوں کے لیے محفوظ، جامع اور صنفی مساوات پر مبنی جگہ میں تبدیل کرنا ہے۔ رپورٹ کا عنوان "ڈیجیٹل سیکیورٹی ہیلپ لائن سالانہ رپورٹ 2024" ہے، جو ہیلپ لائن کے نئے مرحلے کی نمائندگی کرتی ہے۔ سابقہ "سائبر ہراسمنٹ ہیلپ لائن" اب "ڈیجیٹل سیکیورٹی ہیلپ لائن" کے نام سے جانی جائے گی تاکہ وقت کی ضروریات کے مطابق خدمات کو وسعت دی جا سکے، جس کا دائرہ کار اب جنوبی ایشیا اور وسیع تر عالمی اکثریت تک پھیل چکا ہے۔ رپورٹ میں، پاکستان میں ٹیکنالوجی کے ذریعے ہونے والے صنفی بنیادوں پر تشدد (ٹی ایف جی بی وی) کے بحران پر روشنی ڈالی گئی ہے، جس میں بتایا گیا ہے کہ دسمبر 2016 میں آغاز سے لے کر اب تک ہیلپ لائن کو ملک بھر سے مجموعی طور پر 20,020 شکایات موصول ہوئی ہیں، جن میں سے صرف 2024 میں 3,171 شکایات درج کی گئیں۔

ڈیجیٹل سیکیورٹی ہیلپ لائن خطے کی پہلی ہیلپ لائن ہے جو ٹی ایف جی بی وی اور دیگر آن لائن نقصانات کے خلاف ہفتے کے ساتوں دن صبح 9 بجے سے شام 5 بجے تک خدمات فراہم کرتی ہے۔ یہ خدمات صنفی حساسیت، رازداری، رسائی اور نفسیاتی فلاح کو ترجیح دیتی ہیں۔ رپورٹ میں 2024 کے دوران ہیلپ لائن پر موصول ہونے والی شکایات کا جامع تجزیہ پیش کیا گیا ہے، جو ٹول فری نمبر (080039393)، ای میل اور ڈی آر ایف کے سوشل میڈیا پلیٹ فارمز کے ذریعے موصول ہوئیں۔ اس میں ٹی ایف جی بی وی کے رجحانات اور پیٹرنز سے متعلق ڈیٹا، متاثر کن مداخلتوں کے گمنام کیس اسٹڈیز، ٹیک پلیٹ فارمز اور ریاستی حکام کے ساتھ ہیلپ لائن کی مشغولیت کی جھلک، اور پالیسی سازوں اور قانون نافذ کرنے والے اداروں کے لیے تفصیلی سفارشات شامل ہیں۔

2024 میں ہر ماہ اوسطاً 264 نئے کیسز موصول ہوئے، جو ہیلپ لائن کے لیے ایک مصروف سال رہا۔ شکایات کی اکثریت سائبر ہراسمنٹ سے متعلق تھیں (2,741)، جن میں سے صرف 36% (619) کیسز ان شہروں سے تھے جہاں ایف آئی اے کا سائبر کرائم ونگ فعال ہے۔ یہ دور دراز علاقوں اور چھوٹے شہروں میں رسائی کی نمایاں رکاوٹوں کی نشاندہی کرتا ہے۔ چونکہ متاثرین، خصُوصاً خواتین متاثرین کو، انصاف کے حصول میں لاجسٹک، مالی اور ثقافتی رکاوٹوں کا سامنا ہوتا ہے۔ اس لیے مساوی انصاف کی رسائی کو یقینی بنانے کے لیے ان رکاوٹوں کا حل نکالنا ضروری ہے۔ رپورٹ میں جغرافیائی ڈیٹا کے مزید تجزیے میں بتایا گیا ہے کہ ہیلپ لائن نے 25 ممالک سے موصول ہونے والی درخواستوں پر کارروائی کی، جس سے دنیا بھر میں خواتین اور کمزور افراد کو اہم ڈیجیٹل سیکیورٹی سپورٹ فراہم کی گئی۔

رپورٹ میں بتایا گیا ہے کہ خواتین آن لائن ہراسمنٹ کا بنیادی ہدف بنی رہیں، جن میں 1,772 کیسز خواتین سے متعلق تھے۔ مزید برآں، ڈیٹا سے ظاہر ہوتا ہے کہ خواتین کو غیر رضامندانہ نجی تصاویر (این سی آئی آئی) اور امیج بیسڈ ایبیوز (آئی بی اے) کے ذریعے غیر متناسب طور پر نشانہ بنایا گیا، جس میں تمام این سی آئی آئی کیسز کا 85% اورآئی بی اے کیسز کا 81% خواتین کے خلاف تھے، جن کا مقصد انہیں مجبور کرنا، بلیک میل کرنا یا ان کی ساکھ کو نقصان پہنچانا تھا۔ جنس کی بنیاد پر اقلیتیں جیسے کہ ٹرانس جینڈر افراد بھی شدید آن لائن بدسلوکی کا شکار رہیں، جن میں جنس پر مبنی غلط معلومات، ڈاکسنگ اور جسمانی نقصان کی دھمکیاں شامل ہیں، جو ان کے آف لائن سماجی امتیاز اور بدنامی کے تجربات کی عکاسی کرتی ہیں۔ رپورٹ میں مزید بتایا گیا ہے کہ اس سال 18 سال سے کم عمر بچوں اور نوجوانوں کے کیسز میں 2023 کے مقابلے میں 51% اضافہ ہوا ہے۔

متعدد کیسز میں اعلیٰ خطرے والے افراد اور دیگر کمزور گروہوں کو شامل کیا گیا، جیسے کہ صحافی اور میڈیا کے پیشہ ور افراد (121)، انسانی حقوق کے محافظ (44)، مذہبی اور نسلی اقلیتیں (24) اور نابالغ افراد (124)۔ ہیلپ لائن کی منیجر حیرہ باسط کے مطابق، 'کچھ کمیونٹیز اور پیشے منظم ڈیجیٹل نفرت انگیز مہمات، ڈاکسنگ، ہراسمنٹ اور نسوانی بدسلوکی کے لیے غیر متناسب طور پر کمزور ہیں، لیکن ان گروہوں کے پاس اکثر ادارہ جاتی تحفظ نہیں ہوتا، جس سے ڈیجیٹل سیکیورٹی ہیلپ لائن کا کردار اور بھی اہم ہو جاتا ہے۔'

آخر میں، رپورٹ میں تفصیلی سفارشات شامل ہیں۔ یہ پالیسی سازوں کو مشورہ دیتی ہے کہ پیکا قانون سازی اور اس کے نفاذ میں مستقل مزاجی اور وضاحت اپنائیں ٹی ایف جی بی وی سے نمٹنے کے لیے ڈیجیٹل خواندگی کے اقدامات میں سرمایہ کاری کریں؛ خواتین کو انٹرنیٹ تک آزادانہ رسائی کے قابل بنانے کے لیے ڈیجیٹل صنفی فرق کو ختم کریں؛ قانون نافذ کرنے والے اداروں کے لیے صنفی حساس تربیت کو نصاب کا حصہ بنائیں؛ شہریوں کی ڈیجیٹل سیکیورٹی اور پرائیویسی کو محفوظ بنانے کے لیے مؤثر ڈیٹا پروٹیکشن قوانین نافذ کریں؛ اور سول سوسائٹی کی جانب سے ڈیجیٹل حقوق کے فروغ کی کوششوں کو معاونت فراہم کریں۔

رپورٹ میں قانون نافذ کرنے والے اداروں کے لیے درج ذیل سفارشات بھی شامل ہیں: رسائی کو بہتر بنانا، مالی و تکنیکی صلاحیتوں میں اضافہ کرنا، متاثرین کی رازداری کو یقینی بنانا، کیس ٹریکنگ سسٹم متعارف کروانا، اور متاثرین کو درکار نفسیاتی معاونت فراہم کرنا۔

جیسا کہ ہیلپ لائن ایک علاقائی ڈیجیٹل سیکیورٹی اور خطرات کے جواب کی سروس کے طور پر اپنے کردار کو وسعت دے رہی ہے، اور ایمرجنگ تھریٹ لیب کے قیام کے ساتھ مزید پیچیدہ ڈیجیٹل حملوں سے نمٹنے کے لیے تیار ہو رہی ہے، ڈیجیٹل سیکیورٹی ہیلپ لائن آئندہ مرحلے میں چند اہم اہداف پر کام کرے گی۔ ان میں ہائی رسک کیسز کے لیے ابھرتے ہوئے ردعمل کے نظام کو مضبوط بنانا شامل ہے تاکہ متاثرین کو فوری اور مؤثر مدد فراہم کی جا سکے۔ اس کے ساتھ ساتھ، سرحد پار تعاون کو فروغ دے کر پاکستان سے باہر بھی معاونت کی فراہمی ممکن بنائی جائے گی۔ تنظیم صحافیوں، انسانی حقوق کے محافظوں اور دیگر خطرے سے دوچار افراد کے لیے ڈیجیٹل سیکیورٹی پر تربیتی مواد تیار کرے گی، تاکہ وہ خود کو آن لائن خطرات سے محفوظ رکھ سکیں۔ اس کے علاوہ، عالمی ٹیکنالوجی پلیٹ فارمز کے ساتھ روابط کو مزید وسعت دی جائے گی تاکہ آن لائن دنیا میں پسماندہ طبقات کے تحفظ کے لیے مؤثر پالیسیوں پر زور دیا جا سکے۔

رپورٹ یہاں ملاحظہ کی جا سکتی ہے

https://digitalrightsfoundation.pk/digital-security-helpline-annual-report-2024/ 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
24th April 2025

Lahore: The Digital Rights Foundation (DRF)’s Helpline has released its eighth annual report for 2024 on International Girls in ICTs Day, a fitting reminder of the Helpline’s objective to transform the digital realm into spaces that are gender-friendly, safe and inclusive for young girls and our future generations. The report, titled Digital Security Helpline Annual Report 2024, also marks a new chapter in the Helpline’s journey after completing eight years of operations: the Helpline, formerly known as the Cyber Harassment Helpline, has updated its title to the Digital Security Helpline in order to cater to the current needs of the time, with an expanded scope of services and footprint that spans across South Asia and the broader Global Majority. The report further sheds light on the tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) crisis in Pakistan, noting that the Helpline has received a total number of 20,020 complaints from across the country since its inception in December 2016, with 3,171 complaints received in 2024 alone.

The Digital Security Helpline is the region's first helpline addressing TFGBV and other online harms 7 days a week, from 9 AM to 5 PM, with holistic support services that prioritize gender-sensitivity, confidentiality, accessibility and psychosocial wellbeing. This report thus provides a comprehensive analytical breakdown of the complaints received by the Helpline on their toll-free number (0800-39393), email (helpdesk@digitalrightsfoundation.pk) and DRF’s social media platforms during the year of 2024. It contains data related to TFGBV trends and patterns, anonymized case studies of impactful interventions, insights into the Helpline’s engagement with tech platforms and state authorities for redressal, as well as detailed recommendations for policymakers and law enforcement authorities (LEAs).

With an average of 264 new cases received each month, 2024 was an extremely busy year for the Helpline. An overwhelming majority of the complaints were related to cyber harassment (2,741), of which only 36% (619) of the cases originated from cities where an FIA cybercrime wing is operational. This indicates significant barriers to accessibility, particularly in remote areas and smaller cities. Given that survivors face considerable logistical, financial and cultural barriers when seeking redressal, and women survivors even more so, this lack of accessibility must be addressed to ensure equitable access to justice. In a further breakdown of the data’s geographical spread, the report highlights that the Helpline catered to requests from 25 countries, providing crucial digital security support to women and vulnerable individuals globally.

From gendered disinformation campaigns to non-consensual intimate images (NCII) and AI-generated images during elections and privacy invasions, the report highlights the evolving nature of digital threats among a populace and security regime that is ill equipped to navigate it. As DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad notes, it is incumbent upon the state and platforms to responsibly tackle AI-related harms to create safer online spaces: “In a time where AI and automation are hailed as the future, it’s important to remember that trust, safety and digital security are deeply contextual. Cultural nuance, emotional intelligence, and lived experience cannot be programmed. Tech companies and state actors must recognize the limits of automation–this is not a space for cost-cutting at the expense of human safety.”

According to the Helpline’s data, women continue to be the primary targets of online harassment, with 1,772 cases received involving women. Moreover, the data indicates that women are disproportionately targeted through NCII and image-based abuse (IBA), with 85% of all NCII cases and 81% of all IBA cases recorded targeting women in order to coerce, blackmail or inflict reputational damage. Gender minorities such as transgender individuals also continued to experience intense online abuse, including gendered disinformation, doxxing and threats of physical harm, reflecting their offline experience of social discrimination and stigmatization. The report further highlights an alarming 51% jump in cases involving children and youth under the age of 18 this year compared to cases in 2023.

A notable number of cases involved high-risk individuals and other vulnerable groups, such as journalists and media practitioners (121), human rights defenders (HRDS) (44), religious and ethnic minorities (24) and minors (124). According to the Helpline’s manager Hyra Basit, “Certain communities and professions are disproportionately vulnerable to coordinated digital hate campaigns, doxxing, harassment and misogynistic abuse, but these groups often lack institutional protection, making the Digital Security Helpline’s role ever more critical.”

Finally, the report includes a detailed set of recommendations. It recommends policymakers to adopt consistency and clarity when introducing changes to PECA legislation and enforcement; invest in digital literacy initiatives to address TFGBV; bridge the digital gender divide to enable women to access the Internet freely; integrate gender-sensitive training for LEAs; strengthen data protection laws to safeguard citizens’ digital security and privacy; and support digital rights advocacy by civil society groups. Recommendations to LEAs include enhancing accessibility, increasing financial and technical capacity, ensuring survivors’ confidentiality, implementing a case tracking system, and providing much-needed psychological support services.

As the Helpline pivots towards becoming a regional digital security and threat response service, with the inclusion of an Emerging Threat Lab to address more sophisticated digital attacks, the Digital Security Helpline will work towards strengthening emerging response mechanisms for high-risk cases; enhancing cross-border collaboration to extend assistance beyond Pakistan; developing digital security training material for journalists, HRDS and vulnerable groups at risk of harm; and expanding engagement with global tech platforms to advocate for stronger protections in online spaces for marginalized communities.

The report is available to read here: https://digitalrightsfoundation.pk/digital-security-helpline-annual-report-2024/ 

IMMEDIATE  RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

February 26, 2025

Subject: Digital Rights Foundation Study Sheds Lights on Repressive Digital Expression Legislation, Including PECA

Pakistan: Digital Rights Foundation's latest report, Bytes Behind Bars: Decoding Pakistan's digital expression legislation, looks at the impact of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and other laws that are ostensibly designed to tackle cybercrime, but in reality have a detrimental impact on freedom of expression in Pakistan for journalists. 

Journalists and practitioners that work across Pakistan’s media industry have, through their high visibility as reporters, borne the brunt of the heavily regulated media and overall social media landscape. Launched through the Initiative for Digital and Media Freedoms project, Bytes Behind Bars examines how PECA and other overly broad legislations play out in Pakistan’s legal system and, along with the nation’s law enforcement agencies, continue to restrict the freedom of expression of journalists, and by extension, greatly weaken healthy political and social discourse in Pakistan.

Bytes Behind Bars also noted that the overly broad and aggressive approach of the government towards the regulation of digital spaces in Pakistan has led to a “chilling effect” phenomenon, wherein journalists and others will practice self-censorship as a form of pre-emptive protection, in the face of repressive government frameworks and legislative actions.

Several of the participants who graciously took part in our research expressed frustration with what they viewed as the theatrics of online legislation and regulation, used as a means of signalling what speech is acceptable and what is unacceptable. The report also notes that the state continuously turned to extra-legal mechanisms to further target online speech and dissenting speech, despite the powers granted under existing legislation with overly broad provisions.

Recent amendments to the PECA that were entered into law early in 2025 give this report an additional sense of resonance and urgency, as they potentially shrink the room for freedom of expression, and expand the draconian repression and “chilling effect” on journalists and other tellers of truth to power. That national and international journalist organisations have condemned the amendments as well as the PECA itself speak to a growing mass cognisance of the dangers faced by journalists, particularly at a time when censorship is on the rise once more.

“Digital Rights Foundation has cautioned, time and again, that there must be a balance between public safety and fundamental rights, without the former overshadowing the latter. This is especially the case when journalists and others are doing work vital to a healthy democracy,” DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad said. “This report highlights the damaging impacts of PECA and other similar legislations on freedom of speech and press freedom. It further analyzes how democratic norms of a healthy society are weakened through the repression and self-censorship faced by journalists and citizens overall.”

As a participant interviewed for this research concluded, “the net result of these laws is negative.” Journalists and practitioners already work in a fraught environment with little job security and guarantees for protection. Pakistan’s legislative landscape for media and digital regulation must be revisited to ensure that laws do not add to their precarity and muffle critical voices, but instead deliver true justice and accountability.

Access the report here: https://digitalrightsfoundation.pk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bytes-Behind-Bars-Decoding-Pakistans-digital-expression-legislation.pdf 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

January 29, 2025

Subject: National Privacy Conference 2025 Highlights Gaps in Data Protection and Launches Research Paper on Voter Data Privacy

Lahore: The Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) hosted this year’s National Privacy Conference 2025 to jointly mark global Data Protection Day and launch its latest research paper Voter Data Privacy in Pakistan: Privacy Risks, Data Protection, and Legislative Shortcomings During Data-Driven Elections. This conference was organized to address critical issues surrounding voter data privacy and the state of data protection legislation in Pakistan. Policymakers, academics, digital rights experts, civil society organizations, political party representatives and other key stakeholders came together to discuss the urgency of adequate data protection laws and regulatory infrastructure, especially in a country ambitious to digitize its economy but still vulnerable to significant data breaches and Internet disruptions.

The conference began with opening remarks from DRF Executive Director, Ms. Nighat Dad, who stated that “the right to privacy is about more than just the unchecked exchange of personal data… [it] is about public trust, mutual respect, informed consent, and shaping a future that prioritizes citizens’ safety in both online and offline spaces”. This was followed by insights from the conference’s keynote speaker Mr. Saroop Ijaz, Senior Counsel (Asia) for the Human Rights Watch, who noted, “There is a normalization of infringement of privacy in today’s world whereby you have to bargain your privacy in return for safety. But this is a false binary: when you trade in privacy, it does not make you more secure.”

The first panel, titled “Voter Data Privacy Research: Insights from DRF’s 2024 General Elections Study”, delved into DRF’s research paper on voter data privacy, which specifically highlights vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s information ecosystem during the February 2024 general elections. DRF’s Cyber Harassment Helpline Lead, Ms. Hyra Basit, moderated the panel, which featured researcher Ms. Maryam Ali Khan, PPP Punjab information secretary Ms. Nayab Jan, and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Senior Manager Research and Communications Ms. Maheen Pracha. The panelists discussed critical gaps in the existing framework of the Election Commission of Pakistan vis-a-vis protecting voter data, as well as political parties’ voter data practices during the elections. They also discussed what steps could be taken to better safeguard voting information. Ms. Jan noted that “every political party has a responsibility… to maintain digital integrity” and that they must work on “internal code of conducts, legislation and dialogue”. Ms. Pracha added that the onus lies on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). Moreover, “the perception that the misuse of data is an inconvenience needs to be removed; data misuse can potentially cause great harm to vulnerable people.”

The second panel, titled “Data Protection Legislation: Why It’s Needed, and Where We Are Now”, examined why data protection legislation that is holistic and pro-people is vital in Pakistan. DRF’s Senior Research and Grants Associate Ms. Seerat Khan moderated the panel, which featured privacy expert Ms. Zainab Khan Durrani, DRF’s Programs Lead Ms. Irum Shujah, co-founder and director of Bolo Bhi Mr. Usama Khilji, and National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) Assistant Director (General) Mr. Ghulam Abbas Sipra. The panelists discussed how the absence of a data protection regime impacts citizens, leaving them vulnerable to data abuse such as identity fraud, spam and biometric data misuse. Ms. Shujah observed, “The process of data erasure and consent are difficult for even lawyers to grapple with in the current regulatory framework, let alone everyday citizens.” The panelists also discussed what key elements must be present in a comprehensive data protection law, such as compliance with international human rights framework and principles, and Pakistan’s future trajectory in this scope given the current political situation. Ms. Durrani emphasized that “If the process of making such a law is not consultative, then it is not going to be representative of the needs of the people, and will be another law to impede rights rather than guaranteeing rights."

Before the conference concluded, the participants asked panelists questions. One participant pointed out that there is a lack of enforcement even when the necessary legislation is in place, which Ms. Durrani acknowledged and responded further, “Advocacy cannot be limited to a few organizations or digital rights activists. We all need to be activists for our collective rights.” Both panelists and participants agreed that addressing data vulnerabilities with comprehensive legislation is imperative to ensure a secure and privacy-respecting digital future for Pakistan’s citizens.

The research paper launched at the conference is available to read at https://digitalrightsfoundation.pk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Voter-Data-Privacy-in-Pakistan.pdf

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

January 22, 2025

Subject: Digital Rights Foundation and The Learning Hub College, Gujranwala, sign an MoU to promote digital rights and online safety awareness among students

Gujranwala: Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) and The Learning Hub College, Gujranwala (TLHC), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collectively promote digital rights and online safety awareness for students in the TLHC educational institution.

Given today’s rapidly changing digital landscape and evolving nature of cyber threats, DRF and TLHC agreed to collaborate – through a series of targeted online and offline interventions – to enhance digital literacy and raise awareness among students about online safety best practices. These interventions will aim to address cyberbullying, emphasize responsible online engagement, and build resilience and capacity in navigating digital spaces.

DRF will be engaging with a network of 10,000 students and 1,000 teachers over the course of two years. This engagement includes TLHC and also connects DRF with the broader network of institutions within the TLH chain and The Jadeed Dastgir Ideal Schools. Students and teachers will learn how to recognize misinformation and disinformation, understand what support mechanisms are in place when encountering cyberbullying and harassment, and how to ethically use social media platforms in their day-to-day lives. Students will also be able to turn to DRF for comprehensive information and resources on cybersecurity, and access the Cyber Harassment Helpline for psychosocial support and guidance.

TLHC Director Mr. Allauddin Jameel and DRF Programs Lead Ms. Irum Shujah (on behalf of DRF Executive Director Ms. Nighat Dad) signed the MoU and shed light on the importance of this collaboration for public schools in Lahore’s district. According to DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad, “This initiative underscores DRF’s longstanding objective to increase digital literacy across Pakistan, equipping our youth with the tools and resources they need to safely and responsibly conduct themselves online, and collaborating with educational institutions to normalize conversations around cyber safety. We look forward to engaging with TLHC students and watching them thrive in the future as digitally empowered citizens.”

PRESS RELEASE

December 20, 2024

The Digital Rights Foundation (DRF)’s latest report “Platforms At The Polls: Disinformation, Political Ads & Accountability During The 2024 Pakistan General Elections” found rampant disinformation and harmful content on major social media platforms in the run-up to the country’s recent general elections in February 2024. Focusing on TikTok, Facebook/Instagram, Youtube, and X (formerly Twitter), the report noted a significant disparity in the platforms' approaches to content violations in Pakistan, compared to Global North territories.

There was a deluge of harmful content on major social media platforms around elections, with a rise in technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and deepfake visuals being used against women in the public sphere such as journalists and politicians. DRF analysed 225 posts by users across different platforms from November 2023 to March 2024. 163 of those posts fell under the category of gendered disinformation, with the rest under broader disinformation, misinformation, fake news, Generative AI and hate speech. PML-N faced the largest number of gendered disinformation posts (76), which primarily targeted PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz, followed by PTI (61), and PPP (19).  Furthermore, at least 47 posts targeted journalists covering the elections, subjecting them to gendered insults and online trolling campaigns that included online threats of physical assault. Also among the victims were ethnic indigenous and transgender communities (13 posts).

Though the platforms under review list comprehensive policies pertaining to electoral information integrity on their websites, DRF notes that platforms’ readiness concerning content moderation around elections in Pakistan and other South Asian countries was not sufficient. Given that social media platforms have clear, wide-ranging and overarching policies and community guidelines, this inability to tackle or control material that violates those guidelines and policies is hence deeply concerning. For instance, there needed to be more transparency from most platforms regarding money spent on political advertisements around the 2024 General Elections. DRF found that major political parties spent a collective PKR 54 million, or USD 190,000, on running ads for their political campaigns on Facebook and Instagram. The largest spender was Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), with PKR 25 million, followed by the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) at PKR 13 million, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) at PKR 6 million, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) at PKR 5 million, and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) at PKR 0.79 million. It is worth noting that only Meta (Facebook, Instagram) was transparent about the amount political parties, or accounts supportive of them, had spent on the elections. No other social media platform offered any details regarding ad expenditures by political parties.

According to DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad, “The electoral integrity upheld by social media platforms is crucial to maintaining democratic norms, as evidenced this year. However, we have also witnessed serious offline consequences when these platforms are not fully equipped to tackle the spread of disinformation, particularly when they fail to address election-related information manipulation in a timely and effective manner.” In order to tackle disinformation and gender-based violence during elections and other political or social events, tech companies must uphold information integrity to ensure consistent fair election practices across the globe, especially in the Global Majority.

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

Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) is a research and advocacy organisation that strives to raise awareness about human rights and responsible use of technology in the digital realm. Since its inception in 2012, DRF has been extensively involved in global and regional advocacy on a range of digital rights issues including on data privacy, cyber harassment, rise of online disinformation and hate speech and social impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence.

For more information log on: www.digitalrightsfoundation.pk

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Nighat Dad

nighat@digitalrightsfoundation.pk

Seerat Khan

seerat@digitalrightsfoundation.pk

Maheen Rasheed

maheen@digitalrightsfoundation.pk

For press/media inquiries: communications@digitalrightsfoundation.pk