Search form

You are here

  • Home
  • Pakistan should protect user data by launching its own messaging service, says science minister


Pakistan should protect user data by launching its own messaging service, says science minister

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has advised the public to upgrade the app by downloading its latest version, and to keep devices’ operating systems up to date in order to ‘avoid such incidents.’ (Shutterstock)
Short Url

https://arab.news/yasbm

Updated 11 January 2021
Follow

Pakistan should protect user data by launching its own messaging service, says science minister

  • Global messaging service WhatsApp has asked its subscribers in developing countries to endorse new privacy policy that allows it to share user data with Facebook
  • Digital rights activists say it is time everyone switched to open-source messaging platforms that were more privacy friendly
Updated 11 January 2021
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Hussain Chaudhry told Arab News on Saturday that WhatsApp’s new policy would hurt user privacy, adding that the government should create its own messaging service for people instead of relying on global applications. 

WhatsApp issued pop-up notices to users this week, asking them to accept its new privacy policy by February 8 after which their data would be shared with Facebook. 

In an FAQ post, WhatsApp said it shared a wide range of user information with other Facebook companies, including phone numbers, display names, make and model of handsets, IP addresses used to identify the location of internet connections, and any payments or financial transactions made over the messaging service. 

“This will badly hurt user privacy and impact the business of the global messaging platform in many countries. This move by WhatsApp will also benefit other messaging apps like Signal and Telegram,” Chaudhry told Arab News, adding that the development could also encourage different countries and regions to create their own applications which abide by local laws and privacy policies. 

“The Pakistani government should create such a platform of its own like China and the United Arab Emirates. China has its own application WeChat and many Gulf countries have also developed their own messaging platforms,” he continued. 

Chaudhry pointed out that Pakistan already had local messaging services, such as TelloTalk, which were not very popular but could now expand their user base in the country. 

“This decision seems to be driven by the antitrust litigation against Facebook in the United States,” he added. “Facebook may be trying to get the WhatsApp data before relinquishing its ownership of that company.” 

A Pakistani lawyer and activist, Nighat Dad, who runs a not-for-profit organization, Digital Rights Foundation, termed the new policy “unfair,” adding that users in developing countries already lacked strong data privacy regulations. 

“WhatsApp has exempted the European Union, United Kingdom and United States due to their strong privacy regulations,” she noted. “Developing countries are still trying to catch when it comes to such policies.” 

Dad added that Pakistanis should start using open-source applications that are not controlled by any corporation. 

“In the last few weeks, Signal has been massively downloaded in many countries including Pakistan,” she added. “Signal, Telegram and Wire are more privacy friendly.” 

Messaging application Signal said in a twitter post this week that its verification codes were getting delayed because of the number of new users trying to join the network. 

“This is blackmailing from a big company like Facebook that is asking users to surrender their data or stop using WhatsApp,” another internet activist Asad Baig told Arab News. 

He said the new WhatsApp policy was alarming since there was hardly any transparency about how the data was going to be used. 

“This is the reason we should have legislations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union (EU). The GDPR limits international companies from collecting a lot of data of EU citizens,” he added. 

Adnan Lotia, Chief Operating Officer of the Pakistani messaging platform TelloTalk, said it was a great opportunity for local platforms that should market themselves more aggressively to fill the void. 

“TelloTalk subscriptions have seen 70 percent growth in the last few months. The government should also support local platforms that follows local regulations,” he told Arab News. 

Syed Azfar Hussain, program manager of the National Incubation Center Karachi, said the new WhatsApp policy would not have a major impact on Pakistani users. 

“In Pakistan, Facebook financial transactions were not happening in large volumes due to the absence of PayPal and other such platforms. So, this will not have a great impact on Pakistani users. Local platforms still need a lot of funding and government support,” he said.

Topics: Pakistan messaging app social media

Pakistan province says warring tribes in violence-hit Kurram district have reached consensus

Updated 7 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan province says warring tribes in violence-hit Kurram district have reached consensus

  • Rival factions in Kurram district expected to formally sign agreement on Tuesday, says KP official
  • At least 136 have been killed in sectarian and tribal clashes in Kurram district since November
Updated 7 sec ago
REHMAT MEHSUD

PESHAWAR: The warring tribes in violence-hit northwestern Kurram district have reached a consensus on all contentious points but a formal agreement between them will be signed in the next two days, an official of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province confirmed on Sunday. 

Kurram, a northwestern district of around 600,000 people in KP, has long been a hotspot for tribal and sectarian violence, with authorities struggling to maintain control.

The area’s situation has necessitated travel in convoys escorted by security personnel, yet it failed to prevent an attack on Nov. 21, when gunmen ambushed a convoy, killing 52 people. The attack sparked further violence and road closures, restricting access to medicine, food and fuel in the region as casualties surged to 136.

A grand jirga, or council of political and tribal elders formed by the provincial government, has been attempting to mediate between the rival Sunni and Shia factions this month as protests in Parachinar, the main city in Kurram, have also spread to the southern port city of Karachi. 

“Efforts to settle the century-old Kurram dispute are going ahead as members of the jirga have reached a consensus,” Muhammad Ali Saif, the KP government’s spokesperson, said in a statement.

“The Ahle Sunnat side has requested a two-day break to hold their internal discussions,” he said, adding that the jirga will reconvene on Tuesday. 

Saif said both warring factions were showing progress in heading toward lasting peace and reaching a settlement to their dispute. 

Last week, Saif said authorities had decided to dismantle private bunkers, observation posts used in the fighting by both sides, and given a deadline of Feb. 1 for tribesmen in Kurram to hand over heavy weapons. 

Local tribesmen have so far reportedly refused to surrender their weapons, citing concerns about their safety.

Munir Bangash, a Sunni tribal elder and a member of the jirga, confirmed to Arab News that his faction had sought two days to hold consultations before signing the agreement. 

“There are no hurdles left in signing the peace agreement but we sought to days’ time to consult all and sundry of our tribe,” Bangash said. “I’m sure there is no hurdle. Everything will be okay after two days.”

Professor Jamil Kazmi, a member of the jirga representing the Shia faction, however, did not seem optimistic about the jirga brokering a permanent solution to the Kurram dispute. 

He said certain elements had their “personal vested interests,” without elaborating what those interests were or identifying those elements. 

“Yes, an agreement has been reached which will be signed by both parties but I fear the issue can’t be settled on a permanent basis because some elements always sabotage peace efforts,” Kazmi told Arab News. 

While the talks continue, the KP government has launched a helicopter service to evacuate people and transport aid and medicines to Kurran as a major highway connecting the district’s main city of Parachinar to the provincial capital of Peshawar has been blocked since last month, triggering a humanitarian crisis with reports of starvation, lack of medicine and oxygen shortages.

In a meeting on Monday, the KP cabinet decided to establish a special police force to secure the Peshawar-Parachinar road, for which 399 people would be recruited.

Shia Muslims dominate parts of Kurram, although they are a minority in the rest of the country. The area has a history of sectarian conflict, with militant groups like the Pakistani Taliban and Daesh also previously targeting the minority group.

Topics: kurram district sectarian clashes jirga

Pakistan ‘deeply saddened’ as South Korea plane crash casualties surge to 120

Updated 55 min 22 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan ‘deeply saddened’ as South Korea plane crash casualties surge to 120

  • Jeju Air flight, carrying 175 passengers from Bangkok, crashed after landing at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning
  • Investigators looking into bird strikes and weather conditions as possible reasons for plane crash, says Muan fire chief Lee Jung-hyun
Updated 55 min 22 sec ago
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed condolences for the loss of lives after at least 120 people were killed when a passenger plane crashed upon landing in South Korea. 

The incident took place on Sunday morning as the Jeju Air flight, carrying 175 passengers and six crew from Thailand’s capital Bangkok, caught fire after skidding off a runway and crashing at the Muan International Airport. 

South Korea’s National Fire Agency said 120 people have been killed in the plane crash while two people have been rescued, both of them being crew members.

“Deeply saddened to learn about the tragic plane crash at Muan International Airport in Korea resulting in the loss of so many lives,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X.

“In this hour of grief, our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and with the people and the Government of Republic of Korea,” he added. 

Muan fire chief Lee Jung-hyun told reporters that the fire was extinguished at 1:00 p.m. local time.

“Only the tail part retains a little bit of shape, and the rest of (the plane) looks almost impossible to recognize,” he said.

Authorities have switched from rescue to recovery operations and because of the force of the impact, are searching nearby areas for bodies possibly thrown from the plane, Lee added.

The two crew were being treated at hospitals with medium to severe injuries, said the head of the local public health center.

Investigators are looking into bird strikes and weather conditions as possible factors, Lee said. Yonhap cited airport authorities as saying a bird strike may have caused the landing gear to malfunction.

With inputs from Reuters

Topics: south korea plan crash Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Sit-in protests in solidarity with violence-hit Kurram district enter third day in Karachi

Updated 29 December 2024
Follow

Sit-in protests in solidarity with violence-hit Kurram district enter third day in Karachi

  • Demonstrators call protests in Karachi vital to draw attention to ‘overlooked’ crisis in Kurram
  • Traffic police urges citizens to avoid traveling unnecessarily in protest areas, exercise patience
Updated 29 December 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Sit-in protests at various locations across Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi continued for a third consecutive day today, Sunday, with demonstrators showing solidarity with the people in Kurram district, where violence and a lack of medical access have claimed over 130 lives in recent weeks.
Kurram, a northwestern district of around 600,000 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has long been a hotspot for tribal and sectarian violence, with authorities struggling to maintain control.
The area’s situation has necessitated travel in convoys escorted by security personnel, yet it failed to prevent an attack on Nov. 21, when gunmen ambushed a convoy, killing 52 people. The attack sparked further violence and road closures, restricting access to medicine, food and fuel in the region.
A grand jirga, or council of political and tribal elders, has attempted to mediate between rival factions, as protests in Parachinar, the main city in Kurram, spread to Karachi on Friday where demonstrators held sit-in protests at 10 different locations in the city. 
“Protest demonstrations due to the Parachinar incident in Karachi city are ongoing,” Karachi Traffic Police said in an advisory, urging citizens to avoid traveling unnecessarily in certain locations across the metropolis. 
The protests have been called by the Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), a Shia organization, with demonstrators blocking main thoroughfares, including Shahrah-e-Faisal, which connects the airport to the city’s Red Zone, home to sensitive government installations, and major hotels. 
Another area that has been choked is Numaish, a vital junction linking the city’s central district to its commercial hubs.
“Passengers are requested to exercise patience and refrain from going to locations where the demonstrations are taking place,” the traffic police said. 
MWM’s Karachi spokesperson, Syed Ahmad Naqvi, told Arab News on Saturday that the protests would continue as long as the Parachinar protests persist. 
“Large-scale protests in Karachi highlight the situation in Kurram, where many precious lives have been lost in recent weeks but have received no attention,” he said.
Meanwhile, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab criticized demonstrators for disrupting daily life in the city. 
“If the aim of a protest is to inconvenience people, disrupt a city’s system, prevent ambulances and fire brigades from operating, or hinder police and administrative vehicles, then I believe this is inappropriate,” Wahab told Arab News on Saturday.

Topics: parachinar kurram district karachi protest

ICC shortlists Pakistani batter Saim Ayub for Emerging Cricketer of the Year award

Updated 29 December 2024
Follow

ICC shortlists Pakistani batter Saim Ayub for Emerging Cricketer of the Year award

  • Saim Ayub scored two centuries in recently concluded ODI series against South Africa
  • He has been nominated alongside Kamindu Mendis, Shamar Joseph and Gus Atkinson
Updated 29 December 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council (ICC) this week shortlisted Pakistan’s new batting sensation Saim Ayub for the Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year award for his match-winning performances against South Africa and Zimbabwe this month. 

Ayub has played six Test matches for Pakistan, scoring 323 runs at an average of 26.91 and scored three half-centuries. He has played nine ODIs, scoring 515 runs at an average of 64.37 with three centuries and a fifty already under his belt. 

The aggressive opening batter’s two centuries against South Africa in the recently concluded ODI series has earned him critical acclaim and comparisons with former Pakistan batting legend Saeed Anwar. 

“With nine categories in total, cricket fans around the world have the opportunity to cast their votes and help decide the winners of the ICC Awards 2024,” the ICC wrote on Saturday. 

Ayub has been nominated for the award with Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis, West Indies’ bowler Shamar Joseph and England’s Gus Atkinson. 

Pakistan are currently playing the first of their two-Test match series against South Africa in Centurion. The hosts have handed the Proteas a 148-run target, as South Africa struggle at 27/3 to chase the target.

Topics: Saim Ayub ICC Awards Pakistan cricket

Pakistan minister says May 2023 protests ‘unforgivable’ despite talks with Imran Khan’s party

Updated 29 December 2024
Follow

Pakistan minister says May 2023 protests ‘unforgivable’ despite talks with Imran Khan’s party

  • Pakistan’s government this week kicked off negotiations with Khan’s party to ease political tensions
  • May 9, 2023, protests saw people carrying flags of Khan’s party attacking government, military installations
Updated 29 December 2024
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar has said that the violent protests of May 2023 led by former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party were “unforgivable,” despite the government’s ongoing negotiations with the PTI, state-run media reported this week. 

Tarar was referring to the violent countrywide protests of May 9, 2023, that saw people carrying PTI flags attack government and military installations. Khan’s party denies involvement in the protest, saying that the May 9 incident was a “false flag” operation designed to crush the party. 

Pakistan’s military this month sentenced 85 civilians to prison, which included Khan’s nephew, for sentences ranging from two years to 10, for their involvement in the protests. The decision was criticized by the European Union, the US and the UK, who raised questions over the transparency of the trials. 

Pakistan’s government this week opened talks with Khan’s PTI party to ease political tensions in the country. The PTI has demanded the release of political prisoners and the establishment of judicial commissions to investigate protests on May 9, 2023, and Nov. 26 this year. 

“He [Tarar] said incidents of violence like May 9 cannot be overlooked and anyone who commits acts of violence has to face the law,” Tarar told journalists at a press conference in Gujranwala, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said. 

The minister said that there was “irrefutable evidence” against people sentenced by the military for the May 9 protests, categorically stating that the right to fair trial was ensured.

“The government wants to build on a momentum of hard-earned economic progress during the last few months and political stability is inevitable to this end,” Radio Pakistan said. 

Khan’s ouster in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in 2022 has plunged the country into a long-term political crisis, particularly since the PTI founder was jailed in August last year on corruption and other charges and remains behind bars. 

His party and supporters regularly hold protests calling for his release, with many of the demonstrations turning violent, including one last month in which the government says four troops were killed and the PTI says 12 of its supporters died. 

The next session of talks between the government and the PTI is scheduled to be held on Jan. 2 in which it is expected that the PTI will present their demands in writing.

Topics: Pakistani information minister atta tarar May 9 protests May 9 riots

Latest updates

Mikheil Kavelashvili sworn in as Georgia’s president amid political crisis
Pakistan ‘deeply saddened’ as South Korea plane crash casualties surge to 120
Sit-in protests in solidarity with violence-hit Kurram district enter third day in Karachi
Impeached South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol defies summons third time in a row
Russia will abandon moratorium on deployment of short and medium range missiles, Lavrov tells RIA

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2024 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.