Digital Rights Foundation

📬 Read it here: digitalrightsfoundation.pk/june-2025-ne... and stay in the loop with everything we’re building, one byte at a time.

The digital pulse of June is HERE! From global stages to grassroots wins — find it all in our June Newsletter:

🌐 Major advocacy moments
💡 Tech safety tips you’ll actually use
🎤 Global conversations we helped shape
👩🏻‍💻 Interns who are the future of digital rights

#Pakistan 🇵🇰 Zainab Durrani's article in the #Digital5050 magazine of @digitalrightspk.bsky.social explores the role of bots, AI, & tech platforms in the viral spread of online hate during the India-Pakistan crisis.

buff.ly/An56DgE

"The battle for free expression in Pakistan is no longer fought only against state censorship or cultural taboos. It is now also waged against invisible algorithms, biased content moderation, and weaponized digital harassment." -Asma Tariq

#Pakistan 🇵🇰 Asma Tariq's article for the #Digital5050 feminist magazine of @digitalrightspk.bsky.social looks into the silencing of women's voices in virtual spaces. buff.ly/6erld3G

For women in Pakistan, social media can be dangerous – DW – 06/29/2025 As more women in Pakistan embrace self-expression and economic freedom online, they're often met with harassment, privacy violations and violence.

Read the full article here: www.dw.com/en/for-women...

In the news this week: in light of 17-year-old #SanaYousaf’s murder, Kaukab Shairani at DW writes, “For women in Pakistan, social media can be dangerous.”

Check out our archive at digitalrightsfoundation.pk/digital-righ... for the full low down 💻

It’s your favourite time of the week — we’re back with another edition of our weekly Digital Rights Tracker, bringing you all the latest happenings in the digital space!

This week’s edition was compiled by Research Intern Midhet Mansoori 🌟

Unpacking gaps in our cybersecurity framework, Irum called for institutional reform, #DigitalLiteracy, & stronger protections for journalists in online spaces. To build a #SaferInternet, we must fight misinformation and uphold due process to safeguard freedoms.

#DRFImpact

A safer, fairer internet isn’t a dream. It's what we’re working towards every day at DRF.

This week, DRF’s Sr. Legal Associate Irum Shujah delivered a session on #InternetGovernance & #DigitalRights at a Media Safety workshop hosted by the PCHRl, with Media Matters for Democracy & the EU.

With powerful sessions on gender-sensitive reporting, #ethicalAI use, #digitalsafety, and emotional wellness, DRF is helping shape a safer, more inclusive future for media in Pakistan.

As part of its ongoing commitment to journalist well-being and #digitalrights, the Digital Rights Foundation brought together representatives from eight rural media outlets across provinces for two transformative workshops in Karachi and Murree.

Hashtag Generation’s case study questions the separation between an “online” life and an “offline” life, and focuses on the increasingly blurring boundaries between hate speech and the freedom of speech. Read more from Hashtag Generation here: hashtaggeneration.org/publications...

Digitally Right presented a case study that highlighted the role of social media in amplifying hate against Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Learn more about Digitally Right here: digitallyright.org

DRF’s investigative report focused on disinformation on both sides of the border during recent Indo-Pak escalations. Read more here: digitalrightsfoundation.pk/wp-content/u...

Moderated by @seeri.bsky.social, Research and Grants Lead at DRF, this session spotlit case studies from Digitally Right (Bangladesh), Hashtag Generation (Sri Lanka), and the Digital Rights Foundation (Pakistan), focusing on the unprecedented levels of hate speech in the region.

This International Day for Countering Hate Speech, DACSA hosted a webinar focusing on the real-world impacts of hate speech online faced by vulnerable groups in South Asia.

🚨 We’re experiencing some technical difficulties with our telephonic helpline today - but don’t worry! You can still reach out to us on all our other platforms.

▶️ Meta Security Policy Manager Rima Amin spoke in light of Meta's recent lawsuit victory against cyber intrusive tech groups. She said WhatsApp is not the only platform prone to cyber intrusive attacks. Legal recourse is needed to protect all platforms that are vulnerable.

▶️ Pall Mall Policy Lead at the UK FCDO Cyber Policy Dept. Elizabeth Davies said that multi-stakeholder engagement is crucial for ensuring transparency and inclusivity beyond the Global North. Input from civil society groups are also necessary for influencing the market and upholding accountability.

▶️ UC Irvine academic @davidakaye.bsky.social highlighted a recent report from the Venice Commission, of which he is a member, and the report's strict regulations on the use of such tools by law enforcement. He further questioned whether these standards will be applied to the global export chain.

🌐Highlights from DRF at #IGF2025🌐

Moderated by DRF ED @nighatdad.bsky.social, the @intgovforum.bsky.social Day 0 roundtable on the #GlobalSouth’s perspective on cyber intrusive technologies called for reform, transparency, and much-needed accountability.

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Zunaira Rafi's story explores how vulnerable groups,such as trans persons and minorities, face hate speech and other threats in digital platforms.

Link: digitalrightsfoundation.pk/online-hate-...

Amina Salarzai's story explores how women's participation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa politics are affected by gendered online hate speech.

Link: digitalrightsfoundation.pk/due-to-onlin...

🟡 #Digital5050 Issue 3 Stories 🟡

Asma Tariq's story looks at the challenges Baloch activists and journalists face related to online hate speech and disinformation in the face of vague platform moderation policies.

Link: digitalrightsfoundation.pk/from-censors...

Illustrations: Emil Hasnain

Naheed Jahangir's story explores how gendered hate speech and targeted harassment of women take place regardless of religious, political, and regional differences.

Link: digitalrightsfoundation.pk/dont-take-it...

🟡 #Digital5050 Issue 3 Stories 🟡

Hija Kamran's story looks at how AI fuels gendered and political #hatespeech globally, how that intersects with Pakistan's regulatory framework, and how feminist movements can respond.

Link: digitalrightsfoundation.pk/ai-platform-...

Illustrations: Emil Hasnain

DRF will continue to advocate for inclusivity in global accountability conversations, and call for equal support to victims and civil society everywhere.

The panelists emphasized that Global North-led initiatives for accountability must center Global South perspectives. They also agreed that true accountability requires multi-stakeholder action.

@davidakaye.bsky.social @monajem.bsky.social
@r3dmx.bsky.social @internetfreedom.bsky.social @smex.org

And that's a wrap on DRF's session at #IGF2025 Day 0! ✊🏽

This @intgovforum.bsky.social roundtable on spyware accountability in the #GlobalSouth, moderated by DRF ED @nighatdad.bsky.social demanded transparency & reform in national laws, including judicial oversight & public reporting on the matter.