Pakistan Spies On Its Own Citizens; China’s Surveillance Technology Fuels It, Says Report | World News

Pakistan’s current civil-military regime increased concerns about the future of the country. The government may continue to follow China’s model by creating a powerful digital surveillance system while weakening democratic freedoms, or according to a new report, it may realize that spy is not security without surveillance.

Pakistan has been accused of watching its own citizens for years. According to National Chronicle’s report, in the past, these regular hotel rooms, leaked phone calls, and occasional internet closure.

Recently, these efforts have been supported by advanced technologies and international partnerships. A key factor in this shift is Pakistan’s increasing dependence on China.

Beijing, which is generally called the global architect of digital authoritarianism, has become a supplier not only a financial and military partner, but also the supplier of basic tools that allow governments to control the flow of information.

Thanks to the Digital Silk Road initiative, it exported surveillance systems, firewalls and censorship models to countries such as China and Pakistan.

In 2023, Pakistan introduced the Web Monitoring System 2.0 (WMS 2.0) developed with Chinese companies such as Geedge Networks and China’s Chinese Electronics Corporation.

Similar to China’s large firewall, this system can block websites, detect VPNs, and get gas traffic.

It is designed to detect and suppress the opposition before it spreads, rather than censoring content.

However, it is not only Chinese vehicles in use. Pakistan has also adopted European -made surveillance systems such as the Legal Crossing Management System (LIMS), which can monitor the digital activity of millions of people at once.

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While European countries restrict how these systems are used, Pakistan lacks such assurances and provides spying agencies total freedom to monitor citizens.

Authorities advocate these measures on behalf of national security, but the main objectives are usually emerging as journalists, human rights activists and political opponents.

Leaking WhatsApp calls, blocked research stories and intimidation reports of activists have become widespread.

In Balochistan, all regions are faced with internet cuts for months or even years, cutting people from the outside world and silencing campaigns against forcibly disappearances.

Critics say it is less about the fight against terrorism and protecting the military organization from accountability.

By adopting China’s model, Pakistan moves away from democracy and normalizes the idea that the opposition is a crime.

The results go beyond the borders of Pakistan. If a fragile democracy like Pakistan adopts the Chinese -style digital authority, it indicates that raids can be imported and democracy can be skipped.

Pakistan is now standing at a intersection. Transparency, accountability and the superiority of law can choose -or may continue to create an supervision situation that silences its citizens.

For now, the second way seems more attractive for those in power. However, when choosing this route, Pakistan faces the risk of trading democratic promises for the future of fear and oppression.

(With Ians inputs).