Pakistan tightens control with internet surveillance and defamation laws

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 9 June 2024

The Pakistani government has implemented an internet firewall and an anti-defamation law in Punjab, raising concerns about freedom of expression. Critics argue these measures threaten privacy and could suppress dissent.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Recent developments in Pakistan have raised serious concerns over the state's increasing control over freedom of speech and expression. According to an editorial published in Dawn newspaper, the government has started implementing an internet firewall and enacted a new anti-defamation law in Punjab.

The internet firewall, reportedly being deployed in secret, aims to monitor and control everything Pakistani users post or consume online. This measure is reminiscent of China's Great Firewall, which extensively polices internet traffic. Critics argue that this intrusive measure, implemented without public knowledge, could lead to widespread surveillance of internet users in Pakistan.

Dawn reports that the state has already begun using various technologies to monitor online activities, raising significant privacy concerns. The editorial questions the secrecy behind this initiative and whether Pakistani citizens are comfortable with constant state surveillance. The potential for abuse of this power is immense, and there are calls for this project to be scrutinized in appropriate forums before it is fully implemented.

In a parallel move, the PML-N government in Punjab introduced a draconian anti-defamation bill, which was signed into law by the acting governor of the province on Saturday. This law has faced strong opposition from press freedom and human rights activists, who argue that it further tightens the noose around freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.

These actions by the government come at a time when public agitation is growing, and they are viewed as attempts to silence dissent and control the narrative. The new law allows for selective policing and targeting of individuals who disagree with those in power, raising fears of increased censorship and repression.

The editorial from Dawn serves as a chilling reminder of the shrinking space for free expression in Pakistan. It highlights the urgent need for transparency and accountability in the government's actions to ensure that citizens' rights are protected.