Amnesty International Urges Transparency Amid Pakistan's Internet Disruption

Amnesty International calls on Pakistani authorities for greater transparency regarding internet disruptions and the use of monitoring and surveillance technologies. The decline in internet speeds has severely impacted users, particularly freelancers and the business community, sparking widespread concern and economic losses.

Amnesty International has called on Pakistani authorities to provide greater transparency about internet disruptions and the use of monitoring and surveillance technologies, Dawn reported. The call comes amid slow internet speeds in Pakistan over the past few weeks, affecting WhatsApp usage and broadband connections.

The rights group stated, 'Amnesty International urges the Pakistani authorities to be transparent about the cause of these internet disruptions and ensure that they do not deploy monitoring and surveillance systems that are unnecessary, disproportionate, and in violation of international human rights law.' They criticized the opacity of Pakistani authorities regarding these technologies.

Last week, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) blamed faulty submarine cables for the internet slowdown, denying firewall installations. The slow internet has led to significant economic impacts, particularly affecting freelancers and taxpayers, and has also raised mental health concerns, especially among the youth.

(With inputs from agencies.)