Expression restricted: an account of online expression in Pakistan
Bytes for All; Association for Progressive Communications (APC); APC Impact
(2015), 37 pp.
"How is freedom of expression in Pakistan’s digital spaces governed? What protections do journalists and bloggers enjoy? What is censored and how conducive is the environment for political and religious expression online? This research looks at these questions within the premise of an international framework on freedom of expression drafted by Frank La Rue, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression. This report on the State of Internet Freedoms in Pakistan forms part of a baseline research conducted by the project APC-IMPACT (India, Malaysia, Pakistan Advocacy for Change through Technology), which aims to address restrictions on the internet by promoting and protecting internet rights." (Back cover)
Contents
Internet Regulation Framework in Pakistan, 5
ASSESSMENT
1 General Protection of Freedom of Expression, 7
2 Arbitrary Blocking and Filtering, 12
3 Criminalizing Legitimate Expression, 17
4 Imposition of Intermediary Liability, 21
5 Disconnecting Users from the Internet, 24
6 Freedom of Religious Expression, 26
7 Protection of journalists and bloggers, 30
ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION, 32
RECOMMENDATIONS, 35
ASSESSMENT
1 General Protection of Freedom of Expression, 7
2 Arbitrary Blocking and Filtering, 12
3 Criminalizing Legitimate Expression, 17
4 Imposition of Intermediary Liability, 21
5 Disconnecting Users from the Internet, 24
6 Freedom of Religious Expression, 26
7 Protection of journalists and bloggers, 30
ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION, 32
RECOMMENDATIONS, 35
