SURVEILLANCE AND CITIZENSHIP CONFERENCECARDIFF UNIVERSITY

PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF ONLINE SURVEILLANCE

AND CENSORSHIP IN PAKISTAN

By

ARZAK KHAN

INTERNET POLICY OBSERVATORY PAKISTAN

Countries like Iran, Pakistan,

Turkey, Russia and China want

greater control of the

internet

It is critical for the development of the internet for

us to understand how users of the internet

perceive these issues and how are they impacted

by them.

� What are the public’s beliefs and opinions about

censorship, privacy, and surveillance on the internet

in Pakistan

� Who does the public trust for regulating the internet

in Pakistan

� Should information online be freely available or is

some form of state censorship is necessary

� What is public opinion on increased government

control of the internet in Pakistan

� What is public opinion on limiting freedom of

expression on the internet and does it have any

impact on stifling growth and innovation

METHODOLOGY

� Survey Data were collected from 3720

individuals across urban and rural cities of

Pakistan (Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta,

Peshawar, Swat, Zhob, Sukkur, Bahawalpur and

Gilgit)

KEY FINDINGS

� More than 63% of internet users in Pakistan

belief internet has a positive effect on their

lives and is becoming essential for access to

information.

85% say it

makes life

easier

93% say no

blocking of

content online

71% disagree

with too much

immoral

content online

91% disagree

that internet is

threat to

political stability

� More than 30% strongly agreed that internet

allows governments to surveil them

� 45% respondents didn’t know if governments

had the capability of having them under

surveillance online

63% of internet

users in Pakistan

think that

government

should regulate

the internet

less.

17% don’t know

whether

government

should regulate

the internet.

19% think that

government

should regulate

the internet

more or far

more.

84% young

users think

government

should regulate

the internet

less.

GOVERNMENT MOTIVATION FOR BLOCKING

CONTENT ONLINE

45% think it is to protect themselves from

public criticism.

35% it is to curtail freedom of expression

11% think it is to protect population

from blasphemous content.

9% think it is to protect

National Security.

INCREASED GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER THE

INTERNET

83% strongly agreed that it

would limit their freedom of

expression.

67% it would make them fearful that their

actions are under constant surveillance.

61% completely disagree that it would make

internet use safe for everyone.

Thank You

Contact

www.ipop.org.pk

Email: Director@ipop.org.pk

@internetpolicyp