LAILA SADAF
The contemporary era, digital connectivity and rampant spread of information has become an integral part of our daily lives, transforming entirely the way we communicate, work, learn, and engage with the world. The rapid advancements in digital technology and the proliferation of the internet have brought about a revolution in connectivity, enabling seamless interactions across geographic boundaries. It has become the mainstay of the contemporary world, reshaping entirely the ways we live, work, and interact with each other. It has connected people belonging from opposite poles of the globe, transcended borders, transformed industries, and enhanced access to education and healthcare. In larger perspective it could rightly be said that the strategies through which international communities operate has significantly influenced by this digital and technological revolution.
However, as we embrace the opportunities offered by digital connectivity, we must also address the challenges it poses. The use of Disinformation has become a potent weapon to manipulate the population and create extreme ideologies among masses. It also undermines democratic systems worldwide. During elections, false narratives and targeted propaganda can be strategically deployed to manipulate public opinion, sow division, and erode trust in political processes. In the United States, the 2016 presidential election witnessed extensive disinformation campaigns, as malicious actors exploited social media platforms to spread false information and sow discord among voters. This manipulation of democratic discourse poses a grave threat to the principles of transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making.
Disinformation, which refers to the intentional propagation of false information aimed at manipulating or deceiving individuals, has emerged as a major challenge in Pakistan, motivated by the growing usage of the internet and social media platforms. Disinformation campaigns in the country are predominantly driven by political motivations. It exacerbates divisions on various levels and fosters extreme social and political polarization as seen in the multiple states like Egypt, Turkiye and now Pakistan. Misinformation, propaganda, and false narratives pose significant threats to its social fabric, democracy, and national security of Pakistan. Some anti-state entities are actively involved in producing content that directly poses existential threats the ideologies of Pakistan’s youth. It has fueled hatred among people towards state institutions and armed forces. Besides these deepens animosities not only among people but different political groups and undermines social cohesion.
As we are witnessing an extreme divide among the people of Pakistan based political narratives, which are certainly influenced by various digital campaigns. The consequences are evident in the form of violent conflicts, civil unrest: as seen in the recent attacks on general headquarters and public properties. The dissemination of fake news and manipulated videos has sparked violent clashes among public and police forces, hundreds of people were arrested as a consequence for vandalizing public and private properties.
Furthermore, the massive level of societal breakdown happened in Pakistan since last few years , due to the spread of fake information and propagandist operating around the globe, targeting and exploiting sensitive issues such as religion, ethnicity, or political ideologies. The spread of disinformation through social media platforms, often driven by echo chambers and algorithmic bias, intensifies polarization, making it increasingly challenging for people to distinguish between fake and authentic information and engage in meaningful dialogue or find common ground.
Perhaps one of the most significant consequences of the modernization of digital world is the erosion of trust in state institutions. In Pakistan people gettinglynched by the public based on fake narratives. Recently, due to the vulnerable political situation in Pakistan, Indians and Israeli hackers that were exploiting the opportunity and thought to be involved in running an anti-state and anti-military campaigns in Pakistan. Meanwhile most of the population of Pakistan, which is yet to be politically wake, is getting under the water by the floods of information produced daily on every social media platform. This widespread dissemination of false information has eroded the public confidence in traditional media organizations, government agencies and other administrative bodies.
This loss of trust prevalent in Pakistan’s youth in government and institutions has undermined the bedrock of democracy and fostered a general sense of skepticism among citizens regarding the political and economic future of Pakistan. The economic consequences of current wave of disinformation in Pakistan are not limited to social and political domains. False information, rumors, and manipulated data has impacted and international national investor’s confidence and most of them has moved their businesses outside Pakistan to avoid bankruptcy. It has certainly affected market stability which is evident from the crash of Pakistan’s currency and undermined national business reputation. For instance, rumors about the financial health of companies have led to significant stock market fluctuations.
Thus combatting the menace of this information warfare it is necessary to educate citizens about media literacy and critical thinking. It will empower them to identify and verify reliable information sources and would help them recognize any propaganda against national ideologies. Moreover, Introducing media literacy programs in educational curricula and organizing awareness campaigns to enhance resilience against disinformation is needed, necessary, and mandatory. Such initiatives are vital to protect youth from indulging their minds in extremist narratives and becoming a threat to the national security of and stability of Pakistan.
To counter disinformation in Pakistan, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) was enacted in 2016, penalizing those who intentionally spread false information through electronic channels. However, the law has been criticized for curbing free speech and infringing on the right to freedom of expression. Additionally, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) established a web monitoring system in 2019 to detect objectionable online content, but it has faced the same accusations of censorship and limiting access to information, especially for legitimate dissenting voices and critical perspectives.
Therefore, banning or restriction on social media platforms like twitter, Facebook, and whatsapp are not the wisely perceived solution of government to cope with the prevailing misuse of these platforms, rather it is conceived as the violation of fundamental and constitutional rights of citizen and in general scourge of democratic values by the international community. On that account, the Pakistan government needs to strengthen legal frameworks to combat disinformation campaigns, including the policy revision of PECA to ensure that it does not violate freedom of expression and developing new laws and regulations to address disinformation campaigns.