Digital Surveillance and its Impact on Press Freedom in Pakistan

Abstract

It analyses how digital surveillance affects press freedom in Pakistan by exploring what journalists think and experience regarding this issue. By using different viewpoints, the researches focus on how tools covered in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 are applied to monitor, threaten and restrict the activities of investigative journalists. A survey of 40 media professionals found that the majority (52.5%) believes digital surveillance is routine and 62.5% said it has a chilling impact on their work. According to the study, many people experience anxiety and start to worry about safely speaking their minds because of the constant threat of being watched. On top of this, almost three-quarters of female reporters say they are forced to self-censor due to threats and invasion of their privacy because of their gender. Although PECA claims to be about regulating cybercrime, more than 50% thought it mainly silences those who disagree with the government than ensures digital rights. Based on these findings, it is important to introduce interventions such as changes in laws, training in digital security and the formation of a Digital Rights Task Force that can keep surveillance in check. By putting Pakistan’s media under a global lens, the study calls for the creation of policies and structures that safeguard media freedom and women’s rights.