August 27, 2024
3 mins read

Amnesty urges Pak to provide transparency on internet slowdown

The rights group’s demand comes as Internet speeds in Pakistan have witnessed a decline over the past few weeks…reports Asian Lite News

Amnesty International has urged Pakistani authorities to provide greater transparency on the internet disruption and the use of monitoring and surveillance technologies.

The rights group’s demand comes as Internet speeds in Pakistan have witnessed a decline over the past few weeks and users are facing problems in sending or downloading media and voice notes on WhatsApp when they are using mobile data. People even experience slow internet speeds while using broadband.

In a statement, the rights group said, “Amnesty International urges the Pakistani authorities to be transparent about the cause of these internet disruptions and ensure that they do not deploy monitoring and surveillance systems that are unnecessary, disproportionate, and in violation of international human rights law.”

It expressed concern over the opacity of the Pakistani authorities regarding the monitoring and surveillance technologies that block content, slow down, and control Internet speeds.

Amnesty International stated, “The opacity of the Pakistani authorities regarding the use of monitoring and surveillance technologies that block content, slow down, and control internet speeds is an alarming concern.”

“Time and again, the use of such technologies, including national firewalls, has proven to be incompatible with human rights,” it said.

The rights group stated that these pervasive tools undermine online freedom of expression and access to information. It called the internet necessary for the people’s right to be informed, citizen self-expression, e-commerce, and the digital economy.

It further said that internet disruption causes anxiety among Pakistani people who live outside the country as they are unable to communicate with their loved ones.

Last week, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said that people have been experiencing slow internet due to “faulty submarine cable” and clarified that no firewalls were being installed, after facing criticism from lawmakers and the public.

During a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on IT, PTA Chairman Retired Major General Hafeezur Rehman said, “The internet slowdown in the country is due to a faulty submarine cable, which is expected to be repaired by August 28.

He said that the government’s web management system — and not a firewall — was being upgraded. He mentioned, “In my opinion, the internet should not slow down due to an upgrade.” He said, “The telecom [sector] has suffered a loss of [Rs] 300 million.”

The Islamabad High Court had directed the government and the PTA to respond by August 26 over senior journalist Hamid Mir’s petition against the nationwide internet slowdown.

The business community and internet service providers (ISPs) had alleged that the government’s efforts to monitor internet traffic — including a so-called ‘firewall’ — had created a slowdown of digital services loss, leading to economic losses.

Meanwhile, social media users and freelancers have been facing difficulties in Pakistan due to disruption in Internet services. The Internet disruption has caused mental stress for many, especially youth who depend on the Internet for their livelihood.

A significant number of Pakistani youth have been impacted by the slow internet speed, which has affected their work and resulted in clients not coming to them for work. In Karachi, a school student Ezhaan, who works online after school, is struggling to cope with the loss of his online clients due to slow internet speed. (ANI)

Previous Story

India, Singapore explore cooperation in skill development  

Next Story

Clashes erupt between students, Ansar members in Dhaka

Latest from -Top News

Mass Afghan Expulsions from Iran

Between June 18 and June 26, a total of 88,308 undocumented Afghan nationals were forcibly returned from Iran to Afghanistan More than 88,000 undocumented Afghan migrants were deported from Iran in a

Mamdani’s win sparks surge in hate posts

There were at least 127 violent hate-related reports mentioning Mamdani or his campaign in the day after polls closed Anti-Muslim online posts targeting New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani have surged

NATO Turns to Indo-Pacific

NATO must adapt, not replicate. Engage the IP4, tailor ties with India, and align with Quad–EU efforts. For India: influence without compromise. For NATO: relevance without overreach….writes Vas Shenoy While the NATO

Rubio to host Quad partners in Washington

The July 1 meeting comes amid growing complexity in intra-Quad relations….reports Asian Lite News The United States will host a high-level Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting on July 1 in Washington, D.C., as

Miliband shuns £25bn renewable energy project

Whitehall sources say the government will emphasise a desire to focus on “homegrown” energy in a statement explaining its rejection of the Xlinks project The government is snubbing a £25bn renewable energy
Go toTop

Don't Miss

US blacklists Pakistani firms over missile, nuke links

The US Commerce Department’s Entity List (blacklist) includes a separate

Pak opposition sees campaign behind emergency rumours

This perception, however, was categorically refuted by Information and Broadcasting