NWJDR condemns the use of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and Generative AI to attack and silence women journalists
February 19, 2024Digital rights foundation public comment on oversight board case: politician’s comments on demographic changes
March 20, 2024
Nighat Dad shared her insights at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) alongside Google CEO Sundar Pichai and former President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid, moderated by Ian Bremmer, delving into the crucial intersection of geopolitics, AI, and electoral integrity.
She highlighted AI’s broader societal impact, including inclusivity and human rights, beyond mere technology. While Western regulations are crucial, they may not address global challenges adequately. The Global South’s voice gained recognition through the UN’s High-Level Panel on AI. Nighat urged platforms to increase resources for human rights and transparency. Empowering researchers and reassessing governance are essential for fair AI. She emphasized integrating human rights into AI security discussions and promoting transparency. Finally, she called for civil society involvement and anchored regulations in human rights for effective AI ethics.
Policy Initiatives:
DRF Election Desk
Digital Rights Foundation launched its Election Desk. It is a mapping project to document instances of network shutdowns and infringements on free speech via the targeted closure of specific social media sites and access to the internet overall. It consolidated all the latest resources and showcased the legal analysis of different parties’ manifestos in relation to digital rights. This endeavor seeks to uphold democratic values and ensure a transparent and open dialogue during such critical events.
For more: https://election2024.digitalrightsfoundation.pk/
Legal Framework for Financing Election Campaigns in Pakistan
In Pakistan, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is responsible for overseeing election processes, including campaign financing. The legal framework for campaign financing is primarily governed by the Election Act of 2017. This Act sets limits on election campaign expenditures by candidates. It requires candidates to keep detailed accounts of their campaign expenses and submit these accounts to the ECP.
Important note: Section 132 does not explicitly differentiate between offline and online election activities, and the provision can be broadly interpreted to cover both offline and online campaign financing.
Accountability around Political Ads on social media platforms of Pakistani Political Actors leading to elections
The regulation of online and social media campaign financing is a relatively new and evolving area. While entities like Meta have implemented their own policies for political advertising, including background checks and transparency requirements in various countries, the ECP’s policies do not explicitly address the specifics of online campaign financing or the regulation of political ads on social media networks.
Meta has made their ad library public and you can view the spending for political ads on DRF’s Election Desk website: https://election2024.digitalrightsfoundation.pk/meta-political-ads-list/
What to do on polling day?
DRF Election Desk brought people a guideline on what to do on election day – especially for first time voters the day before Pakistan’s General Elections.
- Check your polling station
- Go early
- Bring your original CNIC
- Main order and queue
Difference between our Cyber Harassment Helpline and WhatsApp Disinformation Tipline
DRF’s Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights (NWJDR) condemned the use of TFGBV and Gen AI to attack and silence women journalists
More than 60 journalists signed Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights (NWDJR)’s statement condemning the use of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and Generative AI to attack and silence women journalists.
Read the full statement here: https://staging-m.digitalrightsfoundation.pk/nwjdr-condemns-the-use-of-technology-facilitated-gender-based-violence-tfgbv-and-generative-ai-to-attack-and-silence-women-journalists/
WhatsApp Hacking Awareness Video
DRF has observed a spike in WhatsApp accounts getting hacked. We shared an instructional video on how to avoid it.
You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUgEpJfX8oU
Press Coverage:
How the Digital Rights Foundation Fights for Privacy and Better Internet Governance
Nighat Dad talked to XMTP and her insights offered an essential perspective on the role open and decentralized protocols play in countering the prevalent centralized models of data collection and ownership.
Read more: https://blog.xmtp.com/digital-rights-foundation/
Important Analysis of Nighat Dad on Legality of the Decision in Iddat Case
Nighat Dad spoke to Dawn News as a member of WAF (Women Action Forum) about the Iddat case and provided critical legal analysis.
More here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrRD7weX9oE
Nighat spoke to DW Urdu about Pakistan’s General Elections and Internet shutdown
Nighat Dad spoke to DW Urdu and talked about how the use of the internet is also done to obtain information, so the shutdown of mobile and internet services on the day of general elections in Pakistan is a violation of the democratic and fundamental rights of citizens.
Watch here: https://x.com/dw_urdu/status/1758892312850001938?s=20
In this opinion piece, Nighat Dad discusses the prevalence of internet shutdowns during election cycles in Pakistan, highlighting their detrimental impact on society and the economy. She emphasizes how shutdowns hinder access to crucial information, disrupt economic activities, and impede democratic processes. Additionally, Nighat argues that internet shutdowns exacerbate tensions, restrict freedom of expression, and undermine trust in the democratic system. She calls for the government to refrain from shutting down the internet during elections, stressing the importance of maintaining an open and free internet for democratic participation and accountability.
More here:
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1155503-the-net-must-go-on
https://www.geo.tv/latest/530386-the-net-must-go-on
Digital Campaigns
DRF’s Executive Director, Nighat Dad, penned an opinion piece where she talks about the lack of regulation and oversight by Election Commission of Pakistan on online political advertising.
Read here: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1155205-digital-campaigns
Data Privacy: Elections and Beyond
Zainab Durrani discusses the impact of technology on Pakistan’s 2024 elections, highlighting concerns about deepfake disinformation and the use of voter data. She points out the lack of a national data protection framework, raising questions about the source and misuse of voter contact information. Durrani emphasizes the vulnerability of citizen data held by entities like NADRA and telecom providers, with documented breaches compromising privacy. She calls for amendments to proposed data protection laws and stresses the need for accountability in political campaigning practices. Additionally, she criticizes outdated election laws for failing to address digital campaigning methods, underscoring the importance of protecting privacy in democratic governance.
Read here: https://thefridaytimes.com/08-Feb-2024/data-privacy-elections-and-beyond
DRF in the Press
Events:
Global Symposium Technology Facilitated Gender Based Violence
DRF actively participated in this year’s virtual Global Symposium hosted by the UNFPA. On Day 1, Nighat Dad set the scene during Panel 1.1 ‘Now and the Future’, where she spoke about the regulatory gaps and challenges in addressing the intersection of artificial intelligence and online abuse, the lack of effective legal responses to the rise in the TFGBV, and the role that social media and tech platforms need to play in combating TFGBV. On Day 2, Hyra Basit was on the panel entitled ‘Responding to TFGBV’ where she highlighted the Cyber Harassment’s journey, its successes, and challenges.
Watch the entire panel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6oLod78fTc
Striking the Right Balance: Moderating Online Content During 2024 Elections
The session explored important topics like misinformation, foreign interference, targeted advertising, and the role of algorithms in shaping user attitudes and behaviors. Nighat shared her insight about how with social media’s influence on public opinion and elections worldwide, it is crucial to understand how to effectively manage these platforms for fairness and transparency in electoral processes.
Nighat Dad speaking at MobilinkHer Event
DRF’s Executive Director, Nighat Dad, shared her thoughts on #MobilinkHER – during Mobilink Bank’s flagship women returnship program launch. She talked about the importance of creating a supportive & inclusive work environment that enables women to foster holistic economic development and bolster Pakistan’s economy.
APAC regional conversation and consultation
DRF briefed the Global Coalition for Tech Justice partners regarding the elections held on 8th February and around the findings of DRF’s election desk cell on the 21st of February. The consultation was DRF’s attempt to share best practices with partners around monitoring content on platforms in this election year of 2024.
Navigating Online Harms and Gendered Disinformation in Pakistan
DRF conducted a session at LUMS with the Saida Waheed Gender Initiative (SWGI) on Navigating Online Harms and Gendered Disinformation in Pakistan. The session was facilitated by Seerat Khan and Danish Umar. DRF’s team went over the proliferation of gendered disinformation and how it contributes to the exacerbation of gender-based violence. The team also shared ways in which students can protect themselves online. and spot generative AI content.
Source Verification and Fact-checking workshop for Journalists during Elections held in Islamabad
DRF conducted a session on source verification and fact-checking in Islamabad with Meta’s support, keeping in mind the upcoming general elections. The one day workshop addressed the emergence of disinformation and misinformation during elections and how to tackle and report dis/misinformation during this time and was attended by 31 journalists from Islamabad and adjacent areas.
Digital Literacy sessions in schools
This month DRF held four schools in Lahore with their Digital Citizens program. 735 students (females and males) and 44 teachers were informed about ways of staying safe in online spaces and reporting mechanisms in case of harassment or bullying. The participants were given gift bags with online safety resources and stationary.
Session: Introducing all feminist Helplines
Anmol and Hyra participated in an online session on 29 Feb 2024, focused on introducing all the feminist helplines within their community. The session provided a platform for various helplines to present their work, emphasizing their roles in addressing gender-based violence. We have discussed and delved into the specifics of how helplines operate, including the processes involved in providing support and assistance to individuals facing gender-based violence. The session aimed to foster collaboration and mutual understanding among the different helplines, ultimately enhancing their collective efforts in combating gender-based violence within the community.
DRF Updates:
Cyber Harassment Helpline
The Cyber Harassment Helpline received 236, with 118 complaints by women. If you’re encountering a problem online, you can reach out to our helpline at 0800-39393, email us at helpdesk@digitalrightsfoundation.pk or reach out to us on our social media accounts. We’re available for assistance from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Sunday.
IWF Portal
DRF in collaboration with Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and the Global Fund to End Violence Against Children launched a portal to combat children’s online safety in Pakistan. The new portal allows internet users in Pakistan to anonymously report child sexual abuse material in three different languages- English, Urdu, and Pashto.
StopNCII.org
Meta along with Revenge Porn Helpline (RPH) has launched a portal to support victims of Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse (NCII). NCII is a free portal for reporting cases of sensitive or sexual content existing online. Once you report a case, the necessary steps will be taken to block the images from the platform.
https://stopncii.org/
