Islamabad, January 2, 2024: As the year 2024 departs, Bytes For All (B4A), Pakistan notes alarming dents on digital governance and downfall that country’s cyberspace has witnessed due to crack down on digital rights, shrinking civic spaces, and loss of economic opportunities for masses, especially the rural coastal and mountain communities.
We are deeply concerned about the terrible situation of digital policies and their selective implementation in Pakistan in 2024. Furthermore, increased state controls are also evident from the expensive purchase of an intrusive Web Management System (WMS), efforts to regulate Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), and a tighter grip on online civil & political rights and reduced freedoms in the country.
Internet shutdowns are sadly a normal act of authorities in Pakistan since 2012, however, 2024 witnessed that internet speed fell to the lowest ranking of 12% in the world, causing harm to the digital economy and creating concerns about online freedom of expression, privacy and other digital rights. We have seen that the WMS is particularly targeting political expression and dissent, however, disruptions hindered citizens’ engagement compromising their socio-economic wellbeing, especially during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting and several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s political rallies in Islamabad.
Censorship increased manifolds, when the government weaponized legislation e.g., the Blocking and Removal of Unlawful Content Rules 2021 and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016. Harsh penalties for dissent have been introduced by amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Ordinance and increased powers of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), endangering democratic values and free expression, opinion and speech.
A coordinated strategy to stifle dissent is highlighted by the widespread blocking of SIMs and social media platform restrictions, which are made worse by the political environment following the 2024 elections. These acts weaken Pakistan’s adherence to democratic ideals, limiting liberties, and damaging the trust of public, investors and friends of Pakistan abroad.
With profound hope, Bytes For All calls upon all the stakeholders and relevant state authorities to ensure the defence of citizens’ digital rights and preserve democratic principles so that 2025 will not be as predatory as 2024 was for Internet Rights in the country.
We urge the government to release Pakistan’s cyberspace from the shackles of censorship, unnecessary mass digital surveillance, ensuring cyber security for the citizens, leapfrogging and harnessing the true economic and social potential of cyberspace in Pakistan.
A very happy new year, 2025.
