Amnesty International Warns Pakistan Using Chinese and Western Tech to Monitor Millions

Amnesty International Warns Pakistan Using Chinese and Western Tech to Monitor Millions
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Amnesty International has issued a stark warning that Pakistan is subjecting millions of people to extensive state surveillance by using a combination of Chinese and Western communication technologies, Shia Waves Persian reported. According to the organization’s newly released report, authorities are monitoring phone calls, text messages, and online activities without public knowledge or transparency about how the data is collected.

The report highlights that the systems in place involve both hardware and software capable of intercepting and filtering digital activity, creating a near-constant state of surveillance. Rights experts caution that such practices not only undermine personal privacy but also risk fueling censorship, suppressing dissent, and encouraging self-censorship among Pakistanis.

Amnesty International further stressed that the use of internet firewalls and phone interception technologies poses serious political and security risks, particularly for civil society actors and human rights defenders who may be disproportionately targeted.

The organization called on Islamabad to increase transparency in its monitoring policies and to ensure protections for citizens’ digital rights. It also urged exporting countries — including China and Western governments — to exercise ethical responsibility and prevent their products from being used in ways that violate fundamental rights.

Human rights analysts argue that the case of Pakistan underscores the wider global threat to digital privacy, with surveillance systems increasingly deployed in countries where accountability is weak. Amnesty International has called for stronger international pressure to curb abusive monitoring practices and safeguard freedom of expression in the digital sphere.