Cyber Laws and Media Censorship in Pakistan: An Investigation of Governmental Tactics to Curtail Freedom of Expression and Right to Privacy

Abstract

All the democracies in the world have universally recognised the right to privacy and freedom of expression as fundamental human rights. It is fundamental to the preservation of all human rights, a basic element of democracy and a vital part of human dignity. Governments and governmental agencies frequently violate internationally accepted human rights, norms and standards under the cover of legislation. Media censorship is a worldwide issue that has existed for centuries. Censorship is often justified on the grounds of maintaining public order, but the underlying motive is to keep the people uninformed of governmental activities. It is argued that civil society, media personnel and the common people are working under pressure in Pakistan due to cyber and media laws. In the name of national security, the state has been working, intentionally, to put in place the best possible surveillance systems to establish a sort of watchdog over activists, bloggers, journalists and the general public.