Regional Engagements & Initiatives

Presenting and Celebrating the First of Its Kind: DRF’s Digital Security Helpline

On 25 November, DRF hosted the relaunch of its Helpline, now expanded and reintroduced as the Digital Security Threat Lab, which will operate alongside our existing support system for survivors of online harassment. The new model reflects our growing mandate to address not only individual cases of cyber harassment but also complex digital threats faced by civil society, journalists, human rights defenders, and at-risk communities. As part of this expansion, we proudly introduced South Asia’s first Emerging Threat Lab, designed to enhance our capacity to monitor, analyze, and respond to evolving digital security challenges. This marks a significant milestone in our journey.

With a keynote addresses from DRF Founder Nighat Dad and First Secretary Political Affairs at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Islamabad, Laurens Bistervels, the event brought together journalists, civil society members, digital rights advocates, lawyers to celebrate the Helpline’s 9th anniversary and acknowledge the collective efforts that have strengthened our response mechanisms. This relaunch also coincided with the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, with this year’s campaign focusing on ending digital violence against women and girls. As we embark on this global movement, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering safer, more inclusive digital spaces across Pakistan and South Asia.

DRF Founder Joins UNFPA’s South Asia Safety ShowcaseOn 20 November, DRF Founder Nighat Dad joined the Asia Safety Showcase led by the UNFPA, the first of its kind in its region, to take part in a session on policies and features that prevent, protect from, or respond to TFGBV across Asia. Dad outlined the problems with E-safety laws in the region, while also acknowledging the creative feminist solutions championed by South Asian civil society when it comes to tackling TFGBV.

Our Latest Research & Advocacy

16 Days of Activism: #NoExcuse for TFGBV

This year’s theme sits incredibly close to the ethos of DRF’s work since its inception in 2013: protecting those that are most vulnerable from the dangers of digital violence. On 25 November, we kicked off our 16 Days of Activism campaign by commemorating 9 years of our Digital Security Helpline, which has aided over 22,000 survivors from more than 38 countries, and serves as a testament to our commitment to doing the work on the ground. This year, our 16 Days campaign focused on raising awareness and highlighting solutions, and featured a special edition of Digital 50.50, a video collaboration with Samaaj and Super Sohni, and a digital art exhibition presenting young artists’ expression of TFGBV in the Age of AI.

Press Coverage

Web of Darkness

Citing our 2024 Annual Report, DAWN stresses the worrying trend of rising cases of gender-based violence, both online and offline. Read the full piece here.

Digital Violence: Both Real and Underreported

Gendered violence has long permeated the digital realm, with DRF being at the forefront of helping survivors in Pakistan navigate the aftermath of digital violence. As cited by Geo, DRF’s Digital Security Helpline has taken more than 20,000 cases since its inception. However, digital violence is still heavily underreported. Read the full piece here.

Events

DRF’s In-House AI Training – Pros, Cons, & PotentialOn 10 November, the DRF team hosted Jareeullah Shah to conduct an in-house AI training where problems, benefits, and the ethicality of AI usage were discussed at length. The team was introduced to and made to practice how custom GPTs are built, and the kinds of support different streams of the organization could potentially receive.

DRF at Pakistan’s First-Ever National Dialogue on Women, Peace, & Security

On 21st November, DRF’s Programs Lead Anam Baloch was invited to Pakistan's first ever National Dialogue on Women, Peace, and Security which was hosted in Islamabad by the National Counter Terrorism Authority Pakistan (NACTA) and UNWomen, in collaboration with the National Commission On The Status of Women. Speaking at a panel on Youth Driving Digital Innovation and Climate Peace, Anam highlighted the Digital Security Helpline and the Hamara Internet project - initiatives DRF is proud to have to have taken as part of its commitment to building safer digital spaces.

EmpowerHER: Women in Digital Economies
From 19-20 November, Programs Lead Anam Baloch took part in the UNWomen EmpowerHER event at Margalla Hotel Islamabad. Organised with the intention to shed light on the untapped potential of women in the digital economy due to the exclusion they face in the digital world, Anam offered solutions to the problems mentioned by female entrepreneurs and students in attendance.

Bringing Digital Rights into Practice

In November, DRF brought its on-ground digital rights expertise to conduct a capacity-building session with UNDP’s HREC team in Lahore. Drawing on our years of work at the intersection of technology, law, and human rights, the training unpacked the complexities of PECA and Pakistan’s evolving digital rights landscape, grounding complex frameworks in lived realities. Through shared learning, the session connected digital rights principles directly to day-to-day human rights work.

 

 

 

 

Commemorating 4 Years of NCHR’s Impact Through Courage

On November 25, Programs Lead Anam Baloch was invited by the National Commission for Human Rights at the Marriott Hotel Islamabad for an event to celebrate the 4 years of progress made and the way forward in human rights protection by the NCHR. DRF remains committed to the fight for human rights, both online and off.

Working on the Frontlines: DRF Joins HRCP for Civil Society Dialogue on Tackling TFGBV

On 27th November, DRF’s Karachi-based legal associate Romasa participated in an HRCP-led civil society dialogue on ending Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence. The session brought together digital rights and gender justice advocates to discuss emerging harms and digital safety in Pakistan. Representing DRF, Romasa introduced the organisation’s mission, digital helpline, legal services, and key legal frameworks on TFGBV. She also highlighted how entrenched patriarchal norms exacerbate TFGBV and affect women and marginalized communities’ online experience.

PECA, Explained

On 27 November, DRF Legal Associate Minahil Farooq teamed up with PCL Shutterbug to deliver an engaging digital rights awareness session at Pakistan Law College. The discussion explored Pakistan’s digital legal landscape and highlighted the rights that protect users online, equipping students with the knowledge to stay informed, safe, and empowered in the digital world.

 

Online Safety for Rights-Based Content Creators

In collaboration with Voicepk.net and the AGHS Legal Aid Cell, and with the support of the European Union in Pakistan, following successful workshops in Multan and Karachi, DRF’s Legal Associate Minahil Farooq and DST Noman Fareed conducted online safety workshops for rights-based content creators in Peshawar. The sessions drew packed audiences eager to learn how to protect their digital voices and stay safe online.

DRF Attends International Commission of Jurists’ Regional Consultation

Irum Shujah (Legal Lead), participated in the International Commission of Jurists’ Regional Consultation held in Bangkok to develop Global Principles on Human Rights in the Digital Space on 6-7 November 2025. The consultation brought together experts from across the Asia-Pacific region to deliberate on general human rights principles applicable to States and tech companies, and State obligations and corporate duties in safeguarding digital rights.

Tech Trends

Nano Banana Pro Update

The launch of Google's Nano Banana Pro image generator, producing photorealistic visuals with flawless text, has intensified global fears about misinformation and deepfakes. The advanced model's capability makes AI-generated fakes nearly indistinguishable from real photos, raising concerns about exploitation for propaganda and sophisticated cybercrime targeting women and gender minorities. Experts note that hyper-realistic content makes the public highly susceptible to fake news.

Tip of the Month

Old Accounts Are Hidden Silent Cyber Risks:

That app or website you signed up on years ago and never had the chance to use again? It probably still has your data and is most at risk because old accounts often:
• Use weak or reused passwords
• Don’t have two-factor authentication
• Aren’t monitored anymore

If the platform where you signed up gets breached somewhere in time, your email and password can be exposed without you even realizing it. Hackers love forgotten accounts because they’re the easiest targets, and can be used to access your other services.

Here’s what you can do to stay safe:

• Review old accounts every few months
  • Delete ones you don’t need
  • Change passwords and enable 2FA on the rest
  • Use a separate email for casual sign-ups

Cyber safety isn’t just about strong passwords but also being cautious about your digital footprint online. To check if any of your old accounts were involved in a breach, check for your email address on haveibeenpwned.com.

DRF Resources:

Digital Security Helpline

The Digital Security Helpline received 238 complaints in November 2025, of which 201 were related to cyber harassment.

If you’re encountering a problem online, you can reach out to our helpline at 0800-39393, email us at helpdesk@digitalrightsfoundation.pk or reach out to us on our social media accounts. We’re available for assistance from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Sunday.

Legal Support

DRF’s Legal team processed 2 complaints in November 2025, involving women who reported online harassment, including incidents of blackmail and threats from unknown individuals.

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/