All Posts

ISLAMABAD, (October 9, 2020): Bytes for All is shocked to receive the news of arbitrary blocking of social media platform TikTok in Pakistan by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on the pretext of vulgarity and indecency. This is an act of brutal censorship that is unacceptable in any democratic society. We strongly condemn this action by PTA, which is going to be detrimental to fundamental rights of the citizens including the right to freedom of expression, access to information, and economic and cultural rights of Pakistani citizens.

TikTok is known to be the most popular social media platform among common people in the country, especially the youth, who use it to express their artistic and political expression making it an alternative space for their aspirations, quality entertainment and creativity.

The platform provides its users...

Islamabad, (June 12, 2020): The Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020 and the process of their notification is flawed as the government has not used the legal procedures as prescribed in the parent law. The centralization of excessive arbitrary powers in the position of National Coordinator is the biggest lacuna and again in contravention of the law; neither the position meets the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality; nor does it fulfill the proposition of legitimacy in a democracy.

Legal experts closely involved in the cases of digital rights; and the representatives of media and civil society raised these reservations at a virtual consultation organized by Bytes for All (B4A), Pakistan on the Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm...

Islamabad, (May 15, 2020): Bytes for All, Pakistan (B4A) rejects the proposed draft of the Personal Data Protection Bill 2020 in its current shape, believing that it would serve as a safeguard for the perpetrators of the right to privacy than to safeguard the citizens personal data. However, it is welcoming that the government has shown its willingness to enact this important law.

Bytes for All has grave concerns over the draft bill which is fraught with problematic provisions, highly inconsistent with the constitutional guarantees and the global human rights frameworks. The bill contains ambiguous language in various sections that invokes subjectivity and can be misinterpreted according to the authorities’ demands. The grey areas and ambiguous language in the draft bill suggests that the basic...

Islamabad, (April 11, 2020): In this difficult time, when Coronavirus is causing catastrophe all over the country, several parts of Balochistan and the tribal district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are facing an ongoing disconnection of telecommunication networks and lack of 3G and 4G data services, which is a grave cause of concern for Bytes For All (B4A), Pakistan. B4A believes that under the current circumstances, denial of access to the Internet and related information and communications technologies is a violation of fundamental rights. Denial of services even if in the name of volatile security situation is still highly disproportionate and unreasonable, as it infringes upon range of fundamental human rights including right to information, health services, education, economic opportunities, expression, and others. At this time, B4A joins the request by the...

The outbreak of Novel Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) across the globe has forced majority population to be confined to their homes in order to prevent the spread of pandemic. Workforce globally has largely been affected with the pandemic, and the need of the hour is to better ‘stay home and stay safe’.

Previously reluctant organizations, be it governmental, non-governmental, corporate, social entrepreneurship, or educational institutions have no other options left, but to change their work habits and bring new strategies to workflow management by utilizing, and further unpacking the potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

Digital tools and applications are being used around the world by individuals and organizations in order to...

B4A commemorates the World Day Against Cyber Censorship

Islamabad, (March 12, 2020): Bytes for All, Pakistan joins the Reporters Sans Frontier (RSF) in commemorating ‘The World Day against Cyber Censorship’ to advocate for accessible and unrestricted internet for all, irrespective of gender, rural-urban, or divides on economic status.

The day draws attention to realize that the internet empowers citizens to express opinions and thoughts and access information and knowledge for their socio-economic well-being.

Bytes for All, an advocate for undivided, open, safe and affordable internet, believes that restricting the internet enables the states to predate and control individual and collective rights of the citizens, including civil and political liberties.

As a technology and human rights organization, Bytes for All believes that unconstitutional...