Pakistan’s Surveillance Crisis Sparks Urgent Call for Data Protection Law
Imagine your phone secretly listening in on every conversation or your location being tracked without you knowing. That’s the scary reality for many in Pakistan right now, according to a new Amnesty International report. This has fired up a heated debate about the need for strong data protection laws to safeguard people’s privacy.
The report shines a light on how Pakistan’s government uses advanced tech for massive surveillance. Without any court approval, officials can turn citizens’ phones and computers into spying tools. They access emails, chats, and location data freely, and victims have no way to fight back legally. As Usama Khilji, director of digital rights group Bolo Bhi, points out in a Dawn.com article, this all happens under the banner of national security. But without proper laws, these systems are a disaster—data leaks turn personal info into a hot commodity on the black market, leaving everyone vulnerable.
Pakistan’s Constitution, under Article 14, guarantees the right to privacy. Court rulings, like those in the 1988 Benazir Bhutto case, the 2010 Ghulam Hussain case, and the recent 2024 Justice Qazi Faez Isa case, have reinforced this. Even the Fair Trial Act of 2013 allows digital surveillance only with a magistrate’s warrant—not the widespread monitoring that’s going on today.
The Amnesty report doesn’t stop there. It calls out violations of the UN’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which say governments and companies must protect basic rights. Countries like the US, France, Canada, the UAE, and China are exporting spyware and surveillance tech to Pakistan, ignoring how it tramples on people’s freedoms.
Experts agree: Pakistan needs a solid legal framework right now. Surveillance should be limited, targeted, and watched over by independent bodies. Parliament has to step up—launch a clear investigation into these illegal systems and create rules to keep the industry in check.
On top of that, lawmakers should finally pass the Personal Data Protection Bill, which has been stuck in discussions since 2020. It’s time to turn talk into action and protect Pakistanis from this digital overreach. With data privacy threats growing worldwide, a strong data protection law could be a game-changer for the country.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
