Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: A high-level delegation from Meta met with Pakistan&rsquo;s IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Thursday to strengthen cooperation on digital safety, responsible technology governance, and user protection.&nbsp;According to an official statement, the discussions focused on enhancing online safety measures, with particular emphasis on protecting women, children, and other vulnerable communities. <div class="fr-embed"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1240429097955617%2F&show_text=true&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="591" style="border:none;overflow:hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div>The parties reviewed strategies to combat online fraud and financial scams occurring through social media platforms and explored potential improvements in reporting mechanisms, safety protocols, and digital literacy programs to safeguard citizens in an increasingly connected digital environment.&nbsp;Khawaja said the government remains committed to fostering a secure, inclusive, and citizen-centric digital ecosystem, highlighting ongoing reforms in digital governance.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are keen to work closely with global technology partners like Meta to ensure a safe and innovation-friendly environment for Pakistani users,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;The meeting aligns with Pakistan&rsquo;s broader &ldquo;Digital Nation&rdquo; vision, aimed at developing a robust and trusted digital framework across the country.&nbsp;The Meta delegation included Dania Mukhtar, Head of Public Policy for Pakistan; Shi Ing Tay, Lead Counsel for Pakistan and South/Central Asia; Noor Bano, Regulatory Compliance Manager; Melody Goh, Regulatory Escalations Manager; Sehar Tariq, Content Policy Development Manager; and Rebecca Oh, WhatsApp Policy Manager.

Security

The discussions focused on improving online safety measures, with particular attention given to safeguarding women, children, and vulnerable communities.

Pakistan, Meta discuss digital safety, governance, and user protection

ISLAMABAD: The Indian government on Wednesday withdrew its mandate requiring mobile phone makers to pre-install its state-owned, contentious cybersecurity application Sanchar Saathi, according to a statement issued by the Press Information Bureau of India.&nbsp;&ldquo;Government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;The move marked the third policy change on Sanchar Saathi within days.&nbsp;On Monday, the communications ministry had instructed manufacturers to pre-install the app on every device, according to local media reports. The directive also required the app to be undeletable, triggering criticism from opposition parties and digital rights advocates.&nbsp;By Tuesday, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia told reporters the app remained optional.&nbsp;&ldquo;If you don&rsquo;t want the Sanchar Saathi app, you can delete it. It is optional ... It is our duty to introduce this app to everyone. Keeping it in their devices or not is up to the user,&rdquo; Scindia said.&nbsp;The app, already available on major app stores with millions of downloads, is &ldquo;designed to help users combat fraud and recover stolen phones,&rdquo; according to government officials.&nbsp;&ldquo;Sanchar Saathi allows users to report suspected fraud directly from call logs, enabling informed citizens to actively protect less-aware users,&rdquo; the Press Information Bureau stated.&nbsp;Cybersecurity researchers, however, have raised concerns over the app&rsquo;s access to user data once installed.&nbsp;Digital rights expert Haroon Baloch told Pakistan TV that the application&rsquo;s permissions allow the state to access sensitive information.&nbsp;&ldquo;The state can access information stored inside your mobile phone, including access to the gallery, phone book, and messages,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The Indian government did not dispute the level of access, saying the data would be used only by law enforcement agencies for addressing serious security crimes.&nbsp;Experts also questioned its national-security effectiveness.&nbsp;&ldquo;Terror groups and other non-state actors use more sophisticated communications and phones,&rdquo; Baloch noted, adding that such measures may only assist in addressing low-level crimes rather than major threats.

India

After a severe backlash from digital rights experts, India withdraws its order requiring mobile manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app, reverting to optional user installation.

India reverses mandate on contentious ‘cybersecurity’ app

ISLAMABAD: Global internet freedom has declined for the fifteenth consecutive year as countries increasingly impose restrictions in an effort to manipulate the flow of information and online expression.&nbsp; Freedom House, a Washington DC organization monitoring democracy and threats to freedom worldwide, released its latest &ldquo;Freedom on the Net 2025: An Uncertain Future for the Global Internet&rdquo; report on Thursday, classifying countries as Free, Partly Free, or Not Free based on a 100-point scale that evaluates obstacles to access, limits on online content, and violations of user rights, including surveillance, censorship, arrests, and restrictions on digital expression. <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/54a35df5-09de-4454-8d55-6080d06cf4fa.png" style="width: 618px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">This infographic is from the Freedom on the Net 2025 report, as seen on www.freedomhouse.org.&nbsp; Of the 72 countries assessed in Freedom on the Net 2025, conditions deteriorated in 28 and improved in 17, with South Asia reflecting both spectrums. In India, internet freedom has continued to deteriorate, with the country scoring 51 out of 100 in 2025, remaining classified as &ldquo;Partly Free.&rdquo; The Indian government has increasingly relied on internet shutdowns during political unrest and regional conflicts, with Freedom House noting that &ldquo;authorities in the state of Manipur imposed a weeks-long internet shutdown during protests in November 2024.&rdquo; Pakistan scored 27 out of 100. The government has recognized that protests and unrest can disrupt connectivity and have an impact on internet access and digital rights.&nbsp; Bangladesh, however, saw the most improvement this year following a student-led uprising in August 2024, which resulted in the ousting of its former leadership. The interim administration implemented reforms that eased limitations on online expression and promised increased digital transparency. Despite these advances, the report acknowledges that Bangladesh continues to face problems, including frequent shutdowns and arrests under expansive cybercrime regulations. Across the region, Freedom House identified a larger trend: governments are increasingly using digital tools to control narratives, manage opposition, and impact election outcomes. This is consistent with the report&#39;s global trend, which shows that governmental responses to protests and elections have contributed to some of the greatest decreases in internet freedom since the index&#39;s inception fifteen years ago. These tactics aren&#39;t as overt as blatant censorship but have a significant impact on public discourse. <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/7fabe811-3995-4256-aa32-ae19e7ef973b.png" style="width: 494px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">This infographic is from the Freedom on the Net 2025 report, as seen on www.freedomhouse.org.&nbsp; What is the future of Internet Freedom?The report emphasizes the importance of legal, technical, and institutional improvements in defending internet freedom.&nbsp; The immediate future will depend on how governments deploy incentives for and controls over the next wave of technological innovation, Freedom House says. Governments are recommended to limit shutdowns, censorship, and surveillance while also establishing independent oversight mechanisms to examine content-blocking policies.&nbsp; Legal safeguards need to protect journalists, activists, and everyday users against arrest or harassment for free speech on the internet.

Bangladesh

Global internet freedom declined for the fifteenth year, with South Asian countries facing restrictions, censorship, and digital surveillance. Governments increasingly control online spaces, while legal, technical, and institutional reforms are needed to safeguard expression and digital rights.

Articles tagged with "Digital surveillance"

Pakistan, Meta discuss digital safety, governance, and user protection

India reverses mandate on contentious ‘cybersecurity’ app

Internet freedom: Why South Asia is falling behind?