Welcome to the first edition of Digital 50.50 for 2026. We begin the year amid a rapidly shifting global landscape, one marked by both moments of progress and deep uncertainty. This edition, titled Our Data, Our Rights, Reclaiming Privacy in the Digital Age, comes at a critical time. Across the world, we are witnessing how data and privacy are increasingly being leveraged by states, particularly in contexts of conflict, to expand surveillance and restrict fundamental digital freedoms. This issue returns to the basics, examining how data practices shape power, safety, and autonomy in the digital age. Today, privacy and power are deeply intertwined. Expanding data collection practices are enabling surveillance and profiling that disproportionately affect women, marginalized communities, and vulnerable populations globally. At the same time, we are seeing the real-time consequences of everyday data collection, how information gathered by apps, biometric systems, AI tools, and smart devices feeds into broader surveillance infrastructures and data-driven economies. These developments raise urgent questions about who controls data, how it is used, and who bears the risks.
In an era where sophisticated surveillance technologies are rapidly adopted, often with limited transparency or accountability, digital vulnerabilities are more prominent than ever. We’ve seen these digital vulnerabilities come into play with data breaches within NADRA and other bodies that have impacted citizens’ right to privacy and their data’s autonomy. In Pakistan, there is an urgent need for a robust Personal Data Protection framework that aligns with international privacy standards and ensures meaningful safeguards for citizens. Strong legal protections, transparency in data practices, and accountability mechanisms are essential to protect individuals in an increasingly data-driven world.
At the same time, the pressure on digital rights organizations to respond to these challenges has intensified, particularly in periods of geopolitical tension where data becomes a tool of power, from satellite imagery and cyber operations to financial systems and infrastructure. In such an environment, citizens must not only seek protection from domestic surveillance but also consider the broader risks posed by cross-border data exploitation.
As we release this edition of Digital 50.50, we remain mindful of the complex realities shaping our digital lives in this age. Conversations around privacy and data protection are no longer theoretical; they have immediate, real-world consequences. We hope this edition sparks reflection and dialogue, and we look forward to a future where these discussions can take place under more stable conditions. Thank you!

With love,
Seerat Khan
Co-editors: Sara Imran, Maria Nazar and Ahsan Zahid
Illustrator: Emil Hasnain