Unkind cyberspace

WHEN abuse occurs face to face, the boundaries are clear. Yet, the same behaviour online is treated less seriously. Harassment in Pakistan’s digital space takes place through coded language, slang, political and faith-based insinuations, and “context-specific hate campaigns”, stresses the Digital Rights Foundation’s security helpline. The new DRF report logs digital intimidation faced by vulnerable groups — women, religious and gender minorities. It presents sextortion, hacking and deepfake imagery as emergent dangers. Online-brokered identity-centric harm is further magnified via algorithms and other social media undercurrents. Between May 2024 and December 2025, the DRF’s helpline tackled 5,041 new cases. Its survey showed that 64pc received a swift response, 93pc were advised digital safety and 92pc reported lower risk after support.

The impact of online abuse is as multilayered as is its tangible version. So are its consequences. Switched-off devices are no solution. The state must clean up the internet environment, especially for marginalised sections, with targeted campaigns to spread awareness about digital safety. The DRF even suggests the use of digital tools to fix compromised accounts, hacking, blackmail, fraud, image-based violations and more. Rapid platform responsiveness is vital for control, identification and recovery. Equally important is ensuring that the reach of human rights activists and digital experts is not suppressed. The authorities cannot wait for online harm to take on a more concrete form. Digital rights mean that the government, public bodies and tech enterprises must collaborate to protect the online public. Safety and reporting mechanisms, enabled by a prompt crisis response, must be accessible to minorities, trans persons, women and children. Moreover, anti-amplification safeguards are necessary to protect reputations. Strong privacy protocols with accountability for platforms are also crucial to prevent repeated exposure to damaging content. Transparency, enforcement of cyber laws and better conviction rates must reinforce these safeguards to stop online harm in its tracks.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2026

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