This presentation provides insights in to public perception towards internet censorship, surveillance and privacy in Pakistan based on various demographic variables conducted by Internet Policy Observatory Pakistan. The presentation was presented at Surveillance and Citizenship Conference at Cardiff University.

1. SURVEILLANCE AND CITIZENSHIP CONFERENCE
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF
ONLINE SURVEILLANCE
AND CENSORSHIP IN
PAKISTAN
By
ARZAK KHAN
INTERNET POLICY OBSERVATORY PAKISTAN

3. Countries like Iran, Pakistan,
Turkey, Russia and China want
greater control of the
internet

5. 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.

7. 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

8. 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)

9. KEY FINDINGS

10. 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.

11. 85% say it
makes life
easier

12. 93% say no
blocking of
content online

13. 71% disagree
with too much
immoral
content online

14. 91% disagree
that internet is
threat to
political stability

15. More than 30% strongly agreed that internet
allows governments to surveil them

16. 45% respondents didn’t know if governments
had the capability of having them under
surveillance online

17. 63% of internet
users in Pakistan
think that
government
should regulate
the internet
less.

18. 17% don’t know
whether
government
should regulate
the internet.

19. 19% think that
government
should regulate
the internet
more or far
more.

20. 84% young
users think
government
should regulate
the internet
less.

21. GOVERNMENT MOTIVATION FOR BLOCKING
CONTENT ONLINE

22. 45% think it is to protect themselves from
public criticism.

23. 35% it is to curtail freedom of expression

24. 11% think it is to protect population
from blasphemous content.

25. 9% think it is to protect
National Security.

26. INCREASED GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER THE
INTERNET

27. 83% strongly agreed that it
would limit their freedom of
expression.

28. 67% it would make them fearful that their
actions are under constant surveillance.

29. 61% completely disagree that it would make
internet use safe for everyone.

30. Thank You
Contact
www.ipop.org.pk
Email: Director@ipop.org.pk
@internetpolicyp