ISLAMABAD – Pakistani authorities imposed sweeping censorship measures to maintain influence over elections and civilian governments, according to the global democracy watchdog Freedom House.
In its report, Freedom on the Net 2025, reveals that global internet freedom declined for the 15th consecutive year. Out of 72 countries assessed, conditions deteriorated in 28, while only 17 recorded improvements.
Pakistan’s crackdown has its roots in a controversial 2016 law granting state agencies unprecedented power to silence dissent and activism. A website-blocking system was installed to take technical control. Over past decade, the government repeatedly expanded the law’s scope, targeting social media discussions and boosting its own technical capacity for censorship.
During the coverage period, authorities criminalized sharing of content deemed “false” and deployed Chinese website-blocking technology in a targeted effort to suppress the influence of a policital party who allege intervention from powerful quarters.
Freedom House warns that control over online information become vital instrument for authoritarian leaders to entrench power. Countries experiencing the most severe declines over the past 15 years including Egypt, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, and Venezuela have tightened online restrictions, escalated surveillance, and imposed harsh penalties on dissent, particularly during protests and elections.
The coverage period exposed extreme cases of digital repression elsewhere. Kenya suffered the largest decline, as authorities responded to nationwide tax protests in June 2024 by shutting down internet connectivity for roughly seven hours and arresting hundreds of demonstrators. On the other hand, Bangladesh achieved strongest improvement after a student-led uprising toppled the repressive government in August 2024, with an interim administration introducing positive reforms.
China and Myanmar remain world’s most restrictive environments for internet freedom, while Iceland continues to offer the freest online digital landscape, per report.
Pakistan ranks third in countries who imposed internet restrictions
