Bolo Bhi

*BOLO BHI’S POLICY BRIEF ON PAKISTAN’S INTERNET CENSORSHIP REGIME* We trace content regulation over the years, recommending that existing & alternative mechanisms render no need for Section 37, PECA or CP Rules which are tools of censorship for the state bolobhi.org/bolo-bhis-poli…

“Internet shutdowns have become a tool for suppressing dissent. The government’s lack of transparency and contradictory statements about what’s happening makes it clear that there is more at play than just technical difficulties”: @FariehaAziz ipsnews.net/2024/10/pakist…

Hosting the DigiPod on Dawn News English. Here is the first episode. I discuss the Digital Footprint with @accessnow's helpline director @MohdMaskati. What data do browsers, ISPs, social media platforms & VPN providers store? What does it reveal about you? youtube.com/watch?v=0fDZcs…

🎉We're excited to welcome @UsamaKhilji, Director of Pakistan-based research and advocacy organization @BoloBhi, as GNI’s Vice Chair! globalnetworkinitiative.org/gni-welcomes-u…

Op-ed: "The damage that has been done to individuals and businesses is irreversible. Pakistan is being viewed as an unstable, unviable market where investment will lead to losses and there is no guarantee of service or data privacy." dawn.com/news/1854591

"Pakistan is being viewed as an unstable, unviable market where investment will lead to losses and there is no guarantee of service or data privacy." Great piece by @BoloBhi's @FariehaAziz explaining what the "firewall" is going to cost us in every way dawn.com/news/1854591

#HappeningNow #APrIGF Join team @SFLCin at #APrIGF24! Syed Mohammad Haroon, Fellow, @SFLCin is moderating a Roundtable Conference, ‘Digital Censoring Tools & Democracy’ at the Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) and the Taiwan Internet Governance Forum (TWIGF) 2024 in Taipei, Taiwan. Meet the Panelists: - Jean-Jacques Sahel, Asia-Pacific Head of Content Policy and Global Head of Telecommunications Policy, @Google - Usama Khilji, Director, @BoloBhi - Jenna Fung, Program Director, @netmission - Gyan P. Tripathi, Volunteer, SFLC.in Join them: 🗓️Date: 23rd August, 2024 🕣Time: 13:30 to 14:40 UTC+8, 11:00 to 12:10 AM IST 📍Location: Room 401, NTUH International Convention Center, Taipei, Taiwan Watch the live session here: youtube.com/live/V_H0qydYe… @aprigf_official @twnic_ia @UsamaKhilji @gyanxtripathi @haruined #APrIGF24 #InternetGovernance #Censorship #InternetDemocracy #FreeInternet

@FariehaAziz of @BoloBhi argues that the newly instituted National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and the creation of a Digital Rights Protection Authority will do nothing to protect the rights of ordinary citizens. aurora.dawn.com/news/1145146

Discussion on the new defamation law in Punjab, PECA, X shutdown, Social Media Algorithms, Digital Censorship, Draconian Laws and Fascism in Pakistan - @FariehaAziz on @ThePakistanExp1 Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=JeZ4jO…

Aurat March Lahore is shocked at the recent revelations of surveillance through illegally installed CCTV cameras in the bedrooms of survivors in a Dar-ul-Aman in Rawalpindi. Read our statement: #AuratMarchLahore #AuratMarch2024 #AuratMarch 1/3

The latest defamation bill further tightens restrictions on free speech in Pakistan advox.globalvoices.org/2024/05/30/the… via @Umaimablogger

4. Reporting on Gaza from D.C.: Speaking Truth To Power: @AkbarSAhmed reporting on the Biden-administration policy; dissent within the administration; backlash he's received; reporting from Palestine; & shift in narrative since Oct 7; lessons for Pakistan facebook.com/BoloBhi/videos…

3. How Not To Make A Law: discussion on Punjab Defamation Bill with @RidaHosain on the process of law-making in a democratic dispensation vs how this bill was passed; & how this bill violates constitutional & legislative tests for framing & passage of laws facebook.com/BoloBhi/videos…

Conversations hosted by @BoloBhi this week: 1. Punjab Defamation Bill - @hibasaurus & @saqibjillani 2. Contempt of court powers - @reema_omer 3. Punjab Defamation Bill - @RidaHosain 4. Reporting on Gaza & Biden-administration policy from D.C. - @AkbarSAhmed Links:

Several more organisations & notable individuals have signed the statement calling for restoration of X/Twitter in Pakistan

Statement— Pakistani civil society organisations & human rights activists call on the govt for: Immediate unbanning of Twitter/X; Repeal of laws that allow censorship; Transparency on internet policy; Avoid future censorship; Abide by international law commitments. #internetkholo

View the statement on web here: bolobhi.org/wp-content/upl… #internetkholo

New report — How Not to Regulate Disinformation: The 2024 General Elections and the Misregulation of Disinformation Grateful to TLPC @ColoLaw for the collaboration bolobhi.org/how-not-to-reg…

Why the PTA must come clean about the ‘upgrade’ causing internet disruptions dawn.com/news/1807825