Observer Report
Pakistan is facing an unprecedented onslaught of Hybrid Warfare due to regional and extra regional re-alignments. It is therefore imperative for Pakistani state to defend itself against this speeding invasion of chaotic cyber space (being the spearhead format of this warfare) and mould it to draw advances rather allowing an unhealthy ingress impacting social fiber of the society.
Social media platforms are being exploited by various quarters in Pakistan to spread fake and false narratives triggering chaos in society and adversely impacting our social, cultural and religious norms.
To crush fake and false narrative revised social media rules were prepared by committee constituted by PM under Chairman PTA, after due consultation process with various relevant national and international stake holders. Draft rules after vetting by MoL&J were processed by MoITT for cabinet, and stood approved on 6 Oct 2020.
The new rules define boundaries to protect masses from various online negativity i.e. blasphemy, discrediting state, abusing institutions / appointments/individuals, inciting sectarian or ethnic hate and harassment etc. Current government has shown will to enact laws and implement them for better management of internet environment. The decision has drawn some response from internet watchdogs, NGOs and activists who are trying to create a controversy.
Every state adopts and enacts set of laws that confirm to its ideology, all domains of national security and foreign policy aims.
Pakistan’s digital economy is estimated to be increased the tune of US 5.5 Billion$ which in some do
mains growing at 100% annual rate. The rules have virtually no impact on E-Commerce.
Local NGOs and activist fear that global tech companies may be forced to shut down their operations in Pakistan. However, the huge amount of business that these tech giant generate in Pakistan will never be compromised for laws that do not impact their revenue in essence.
To reduce / eliminate the adverse impact of fake, false, immoral, unethical, anti-religious news / rumors/posts / analysis etc is obligation for any state to ensure a chaos free society. This national obligation is protected and furthered by the enacted rules.
India has direct control of more than 10 UNHRC accredited NGOs, which is tasked to malign Pakistan at UN forums and lodge protests against Pakistan. India has created 750 fake media outlets, in 119 countries to disseminate fake news against Pak
More than 550 website domain names were registered to help in spreading fake news targeting Pakistan. The nefarious agenda of India was reinforced anti-Pakistan china feelings in India, to improve the perception of India internationally and to damage the reputation of other countries.
India used members of EU parliament in favor of Indian interests and against Pakistan.
India created fake media in Brussels, Geneva and across the world to engage in propaganda via ANI (Indian News Agency) and obscure local media networks to multiply the repetition of online negative content about Pakistan.
After the revelations, it is now established that India is sponsoring ant-Pakistan campaign/ protests abroad (like Baloch, Pashtun, Sindhi, protests) and disseminating it using fake media outlets to discredit Pakistan.
