{"id":9396,"date":"2024-08-20T14:16:20","date_gmt":"2024-08-20T14:16:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hrcp-web.org\/hrcpweb\/?p=9396"},"modified":"2024-08-20T14:16:20","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T14:16:20","slug":"cyber-security-at-the-cost-of-rights-livelihoods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrcp-web.org\/hrcpweb\/cyber-security-at-the-cost-of-rights-livelihoods\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Cyber-security’ at the cost of rights, livelihoods?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Press release<\/p>\n

‘Cyber-security’ at the cost of rights, livelihoods?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lahore, 20 August 2024<\/em>. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is deeply concerned by the impact of continued disruptions to internet connectivity and their impact not only on people\u2019s right to information and freedom of expression, but also on the livelihoods of those who depend on stable mobile internet connections to run small businesses or operate as freelance workers.<\/p>\n

HRCP strongly believes that the right to connectivity is a fundamental right\u2014not a privilege. Instead of protecting this right in a country of millions of young people who depend increasingly on access to the internet as a means of exercising their civil, political, economic and social rights, the government has sought to control flows of information, initially by banning the platform X in February 2024 and then by attempting to monitor internet traffic through a \u2018firewall\u2019 and subsequently a \u2018web management system\u2019, the specifications of which remain shrouded in secrecy.<\/p>\n

The government has consistently shunned transparency and frank consultations with digital rights activists on its plans despite valid concerns around data privacy breaches. Indeed, the state has gone so far as to vilify sections of social media users as \u2018digital terrorists\u2019. HRCP finds it incredulous that the government should blame internet outages and slowdowns on the rising use of virtual private networks, including by members of the government and state themselves.<\/p>\n

HRCP is especially concerned for the hundreds of thousands of low- and middle-income gig workers whose operations, service delivery and ability to attract and retain customers have been badly affected by declining internet speed. Gig workers rely solely on their available revenue streams and have little or no access to income or job security. For them to face internet outages and slowdowns in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis is unacceptable, especially in a tottering economy.<\/p>\n

The government has failed to justify the use of such measures as either necessary or proportional on vague grounds of cyber-security. It should immediately roll back the proposed firewall and ensure that all citizens and residents have access to affordable and reliable connectivity.<\/p>\n

Asad Iqbal Butt<\/strong>
\nChairperson<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>