As 2023 draws to a close, we reflect on the events that dominated headlines in DRM’s top slots throughout the year. We also reaffirm our commitment to keeping our readers informed about major developments related to digital rights and corporate accountability, both in Pakistan and globally.
Here’s a round-up of DRM’s top stories from 2023.
SHC orders blocking of defamatory online content about actor Kubra Khan
The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block defamatory content against actor Kubra Khan. The controversy began after a video by YouTuber Adil Raja went viral, in which he linked “four top models and actresses” to former army leaders. The YouTuber gave a set of initials (SA, MK, MH, and KK) for the actors’ names, failing to provide any form of proof to substantiate his claims. The video led to a flurry of speculation and barrage of trolling and hate towards specific women entertainers on social media platforms.
PTA blocks Wikipedia in Pakistan over ‘sacrilegious content’
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) blocked Wikipedia over “sacrilegious content” two days after degrading its services in the country. The telecom regulator said that Wikipedia had been issued a notice for the removal of “unlawful” content, but the platform neither took down the reported content nor did it appear before the regulator despite being given “an opportunity of hearing”. The move attracted widespread criticism from digital rights advocates and internet users. The ban was lifted a few days later after then prime minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice.
More here: https://digitalrightsmonitor.pk/pta-blocks-wikipedia-in-pakistan-over-sacrilegious-content/
Leading newsroom editors launch Pakistan Digital Editors Alliance
A group of editors and journalists from the leading newsrooms of Pakistan announced the formation of the Pakistan Digital Editors Alliance (PDEA). The initiative aims to promote journalism, ensure sustainability of newsrooms, and address challenges faced by Pakistan’s news industry in the digital age. The formation of the PDEA was facilitated by Media Matters for Democracy (MMfD), which has long been working on sustainable revenue-sharing mechanisms for newsrooms to ensure long-term financial stability by diversifying revenue streams. The initiative also aims to bring editors to work collectively on common issues impacting journalists, including media freedom, physical and offline threats, and viability of independent journalism.
More here: https://digitalrightsmonitor.pk/digital-newsroom-editors-launch-pakistan-digital-editors-alliance/
Google bars loan apps from accessing photos, contacts in Pakistan
Google announced prohibiting online loan apps from accessing sensitive data of users, including photos and contacts, in Pakistan. In a policy update for digital lending apps, the search giant required loan apps to submit country-specific licensing documentation to prove their ability to provide or facilitate loans. The development arrived after several rounds of discussions between Google and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). Collectors were being reported to blackmail and harass their clients with doctored images, which, in some cases, led to borrowers taking their own lives. They also threatened to expose the borrowers to their friends and relatives through the contacts obtained as part of their lending services.
More here: https://digitalrightsmonitor.pk/google-bars-loan-apps-from-accessing-photos-contacts-in-pakistan/
Internet suspended in parts of Pakistan following PTI chief’s arrest
Internet services were suspended in parts of Pakistan following the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan’s arrest from the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Shortly after the arrest, leading social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) became inaccessible to a large number of users. The arrest prompted a broad wave of protests in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) then confirmed suspending mobile and broadband services on the interior ministry’s directives. The move was roundly condemned by digital rights activists and human rights organisations, including Amnesty International.
More here: https://digitalrightsmonitor.pk/internet-suspended-in-parts-of-pakistan-following-pti-chiefs-arrest/
Bykea users receive inappropriate notifications after app ‘compromised’
A large number of Bykea users, a popular commuting app, received inappropriate messages in their notifications, which raised widespread concerns about a possible hack. The notifications, laden with expletives, caused a storm on social media. Users expressed their resentment and anger openly on Twitter (now X), with many trying to comprehend what actually was happening or wondering whether it was a marketing gimmick from the company itself. Subsequently, Bykea released a statement confirming that the app had indeed been compromised. When DRM reached out to a Bykea official, they confirmed that user data was “safe” at the platform and that no sensitive information had been breached.
Federal cabinet approves E-Safety Bill, Personal Data Protection Bill 2023; digital rights defenders, journalists raise concerns
The federal cabinet, out of the blue, approved two fresh pieces of legislation aimed at regulating social media platforms and governing personal data. The E-Safety Bill 2023 and the Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 swiftly became the subject of intense debates in the digital rights circle, with activists and informed individuals questioning the motives behind the “surreptitiously” proposed legislation. Initial reports said the E-Safety Bill would place stricter regulations on social media platforms through the establishment of a separate regulatory body, which would impose financial penalties on media platforms to hold tech firms accountable in case of violations. The Personal Data Protection Bill, on the other hand, would regulate the collection, management and processing of users’ personal information. Under the legislation, digital platforms and online services would be brought to scrutiny for the collection and use of their consumers’ personal data.
President Alvi approves PEMRA amendment bill
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was signed into law by then President Dr Arif Alvi. The legislation had earlier been withdrawn following criticism from some anchorpersons, but was later approved with last-minute changes. The law focuses specifically on the rights of journalists, obliging media houses to pay journalists’ dues within two months. If a media outlet fails to pay journalists for two consecutive months, the government will stop issuing advertisements to it. It will also allow journalists to lodge complaints against their organisation in case of violation with a Council of Complaints, which will include representatives from the Pakistan Federal union of Journalists (PFUJ) as well.
More here: https://digitalrightsmonitor.pk/president-alvi-approves-pemra-amendment-bill/
TikTok removes over 14m Pakistani videos over guidelines violations
TikTok removed over 14.5 million videos from Pakistan over violations of its community guidelines, according to the company’s Community Guidelines Enforcement Report for the second quarter (April-June) of 2023. Pakistan led the list with the highest volume of videos removed, followed by Indonesia with a removal of over 11 million videos. The US registered a takedown of over 10 million videos. In Pakistan, about 83.6 per cent of these videos were removed before gaining any videos and 92.5 per cent were deleted within a day. In the first quarter, (January-March), Pakistan had registered a removal of nearly 12 million videos, of which 83 per cent were taken down before any views and 92.2 per cent were removed within the first 24 hours of posting.
More here: https://digitalrightsmonitor.pk/tiktok-removes-over-14m-pakistani-videos-over-guidelines-violations/
Over 100 loan apps blacklisted in Pakistan
The government blacklisted about 111 unauthorised social media apps offering loans online. Additionally, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) confiscated about Rs1.8 billion worth of interest from illegal entities and registered cases against individuals operating such platforms in the country. The blacklisted apps were not listed with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). They came under intense regulatory scrutiny for offering people in need easy loans with a nominal interest but increasing it to a hefty amount later, maliciously trapping the borrowers. Consequently, the blackmail tactics deployed by the owners of online loan platforms alerted the authorities. Earlier in July, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) blocked 43 lending apps after a man in Rawalpindi ended his life over his failure to repay the loan with heavy interest.
More here: https://digitalrightsmonitor.pk/over-100-loan-apps-blacklisted-in-pakistan/
Kohistan young woman killed over ‘doctored’ images
A young woman was killed on the orders of a local jirga (council) in Kohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, after visibly doctored images of her and another woman surfaced on social media. The images in question showed the women with two men of the same village in the Kolai-Palas district, which went viral on Facebook on November 22, 2023. One of the two women was murdered a day later allegedly by her father, while the other managed to save her life with the help of police in the wake of the ensuing threats. Kohistan, a remote area notorious for its extremely conservative tribal traditions, witnessed a similar incident in 2012, which involved the killing of at least five women.
More here: https://digitalrightsmonitor.pk/kohistan-young-woman-killed-over-doctored-images/
Social media disrupted across Pakistan amid PTI’s virtual rally, says NetBlocks
Internet disruptions were reported across the country as several social media platforms slowed down or became inaccessible. The connectivity problems, which affected both cellular and broadband internet services, were confirmed by NetBlocks, an organisation that tracks internet disruptions worldwide. Leading social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, faced widespread outages, according to NetBlocks. The disruptions were widely attributed to a possible response to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s virtual rally. Shortly after the gathering began, reports of slow internet and complete disruption started to emerge from across the country.
