Responding to the ongoing internet disruptions in Pakistan and the lack of transparency about their causes, which led to a hearing in the Supreme Court in Islamabad on 26 August, Jurre Van Bergen, technologist at Amnesty International, said:

“The lack of transparency by Pakistani authorities regarding the use of surveillance and control technologies that block content, slow down and control internet speeds is an alarming problem. Time and again, the use of such technologies, including national firewalls, has been shown to be incompatible with human rights.

The Internet is crucial for the exercise of the public’s right to information, for citizens’ freedom of expression, and for e-commerce and the digital economy.

Jurre Van Bergen, Technologist, Amnesty Tech

“These widely used tools undermine freedom of expression online and access to information. The Internet is critical to the exercise of the public’s right to information, citizens’ self-expression, e-commerce and the digital economy. Internet disruptions also cause fear in Pakistani communities outside the country as they are unable to contact and communicate with their loved ones.

“Amnesty International urges the Pakistani authorities to disclose the causes of these internet disruptions and ensure that they do not use surveillance systems that are unnecessary or disproportionate and violate international human rights standards.”

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A petition against nationwide internet shutdowns has been filed in the Supreme Court in Islamabad. The Chief Justice has asked the government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to respond by August 26.

Internet speeds across Pakistan have dropped by 40% in the last two weeks. Pakistani authorities continue to avoid any transparency regarding the acquisition of surveillance technologies and the causes of the slow internet speeds.

Platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has been banned in Pakistan for six months.