ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Media watchdog Freedom Network has penned an open letter to Google and the government, seeking to know what sa\u00ad\u00adfeguards will ensure that the tech giant\u2019s recent partnership with Pakistan strengthens the country\u2019s digital economy without creating a backdoor for surveillance, censorship or unrestricted access to citizens\u2019 personal information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Islamabad-based watchdog welcomed the signing of memoranda of understanding and agreements be\u00ad\u00adtween Google and the governm\u00ade\u00ad\u00adnt after the company opened its of\u00ad\u00adfice in Pakistan to advance the country\u2019s digital vision, but expres\u00adsed ap\u00ad\u00adprehensions that the tech company and the government had not made details of their agreements public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA big question is what exactly has been agreed? Will the government or Google publish all MoUs, agreements, contracts or other arra\u00adngements signed between them? If some provisions must remain confidential, who decided that and under what law?\u201d Freedom Network asked in its alert shared with the media through a press release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The media watchdog asked if there were any undisclosed commitments concerning access to user data, content, metadata or government databases. \u201cUnder what circumstances can Pakistani authorities request information about Google users? Will every request require a valid legal process and judicial oversight? Will Google reject requests that are overly broad, vague or inconsistent with fundamental rights?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Media watchdog seeks details of MoUs, agreements<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Freedom Network was explicit in asking if any protection or unambiguous safeguards against government access to journalists\u2019 Gmail, Google Drive, photos, YouTube accounts, search-related information or other data that could reveal confidential sources were part of the agreements and MoUs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The watchdog asked Google to commit itself to not removing any content merely because a government agency asks, or that requests for blocking or removal shall be assessed under transparent legal standards and users shall receive notice and an opportunity to challenge decisions where legally possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Freedom Network also worried about where Pakistani citizens\u2019 data would be stored as the country is developing a national data-governance framework that urges data sovereignty, minimum disclosure and citizens\u2019 right to know who has accessed their information. \u201cWill Pakistani users\u2019 data be stored in Pakistan, overseas, or both?\u201d it asked Google.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere should not be informal or undocumented data-sharing arrangements between Google and the Pakistan government.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The press release quoted the media watchdog as asking the tech company: \u201cWho independently will audit Google\u2019s compliance with privacy and human-rights safeguards in Pakistan? The answer should not be simply the government.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Media watchdog Freedom Network has penned an open letter to Google and the government, seeking to know what sa\u00ad\u00adfeguards will ensure that the tech giant\u2019s recent partnership with Pakistan strengthens the country\u2019s digital economy without creating a backdoor for surveillance, censorship or unrestricted access to citizens\u2019 personal information. The Islamabad-based watchdog welcomed the signing of memoranda […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":133223,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-133222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n