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Islamabad, January 2, 2024: As the year 2024 departs, Bytes For All (B4A), Pakistan notes alarming dents on digital governance and downfall that country’s cyberspace has witnessed due to crack down on digital rights, shrinking civic spaces, and loss of economic opportunities for masses, especially the rural coastal and mountain communities.

We are deeply concerned about the terrible situation of digital policies and their selective implementation in Pakistan in 2024. Furthermore, increased state controls are also evident from the expensive purchase of an intrusive Web Management System (WMS), efforts to regulate Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), and a tighter grip on online civil & political rights and reduced freedoms in the country.

Internet shutdowns are...

Islamabad, (Dec 4, 2024): Bytes for All strongly condemns the arbitrary disruption of social media platforms in Pakistan. Netizens in Pakistan have been facing slow internet at regular intervals which is not only affecting the digital economy but also leading to the violation of a set of fundamental rights of the citizens, including the right to privacy, free speech, access to information, peaceful assembly, and economic rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, 19A, 16, 18 and 38 of the Constitution of Pakistan, respectively.

Bytes For All believes that the blocking, throttling, and filtering of the internet is not a solution ‘to maintain public order and safety’. Pakistan is a democracy and it is only the transparency, accountability and the rule of law that will enable a safe and secure environment for public life....

Netizens have been facing difficulties accessing Bluesky, a decentralized microblogging social media service, amid a recent crackdown on VPNs and restrictions on other social platforms, including the ban on X (formerly Twitter).

People started facing accessibility issues recently after the platform’s recent hype in digital spaces. The platform, which has over 20 million users, has seen a rise of 1 million users every day for the last five days.

The app offers similar features to Twitter/X, and users joined the platform in recent days, enjoying seamless access without the need for a VPN.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has yet to provide an update on unregistered VPNs, with a ban deadline set for November 30. This has caused challenges for users accessing platforms like X, prompting them to explore alternatives such as BlueSky....

Islamabad, (Nov 16, 2024): Bytes for All strongly condemn the plans by the Government of Pakistan to ban the Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in the country and the ruling by the Council of Islamic Ideology's (CII) calling the use of VPNs “ against Sharia ”.

While banning VPNs can only be termed as state hegemony, the ruling by CII lack any legitimate basis in Islamic beliefs and infringe upon citizens' constitutional rights to privacy, freedom of expression, opinion, speech and access to information. Such measures hurt both Pakistan's global standing as a State and its citizens' fundamental rights.

Bytes for All believes that a VPN is a vital tool for safe communication, particularly in the current digital age where cybersecurity risks are numerous. At a time, when there are terrible gaps in the cybersecurity of the common users, VPNs are widely...

ISLAMABAD, August 27, 2024: Bytes for All, Pakistan (B4A) releases its latest digital forensic based report, “Slow Internet in Pakistan and the Smokescreen of VPNs”, which debunks the claims of the government that VPNs are the main cause for slow Internet in Pakistan.

The report presents technical evidence and possible causes, which are slowing down the Internet in the country. Essentially, this slowdown is not caused by the Sharks or excessive VPNs use by the citizens. This report explores technical issues and seeks to promote a more open and unrestricted digital environment for the socio-economic wellbeing of citizens in Pakistan.

KEY INSIGHTS...

ISLAMABAD, July 24, 2024: Bytes for All, Pakistan (B4A) is pleased to announce the launch of its flagship annual report, “Pakistan’s Internet Landscape report 2023”. The comprehensive report delves into the complex relationship between human rights and information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Pakistan.

The Internet Landscape report serves as a valuable reference document that captures

and examines the dynamic digital environment and its impact on various aspects of

Pakistani society, including human rights, democracy, the economy, and

security. It aims to offer critical information for all segments of society, and foster

meaningful discussions on the challenges and opportunities presented by Pakistani digital

landscape....

B4A rejects Punjab Defamation Bill 2024, terms an attack on digital rights and journalistic freedoms

Islamabad, (May 21, 2024): Bytes for All (B4A), Pakistan, strongly denounces the passage of the Punjab Defamation Bill 2024, believing it threatens to harm the constitutional right to free speech in online spaces. This bill designed with malintent to combat fake news essentially is antithesis to human rights principles and is tantamount to stifling online speech and journalistic profession.

It is critical to acknowledge that fighting the challenges posed by the fake news and disinformation cannot be accomplished by criminalizing online...