[Reader-list] Pakistan: Watch Out Internet Users, Big Brother is Watching!

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Tribune
Nov.25 - December 1, 2002
Watch Out Internet Users, Big Brother is Watching!

Special SAT Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is now a dangerous place for internet users, as 
the Big Brother is officially watching you, whether you log on at 
home or in an obscure cyber café somewhere in the middle of no where.

It has been officially confirmed now, with documents, that all Cyber 
cafes and Internet providers have been asked to keep a log of every 
person who logs on, for surfing the Net or even to send an E-Mail.

³It has been decided that all ISPs will keep log files of their 
customers for a period of one month,² says an official Pakistan 
Telecommunication Authority Letter, signed by Colonel Nayyar Hassan 
Regional Director, License Enforcement, on July 5, 2002. Click to 
View Letter:
http://www.satribune.com/archives/nov25_dec1_02/cyber-1.jpg

³The Log will contain the following information of all their 
customers for the period: a) long on/out time, b) Caller Line 
Identification (CLI), c) Dynamic IP Address.

This means that for one month any one who logs on to the internet, 
remains on the records and if any thing happens during that period, 
the Big Brother will come after you in no time.

A similar letter was also issued on the same date for all Cyber 
Cafes. ³With the spread of Internet a lot of Cyber cafes have started 
operation throughout the country,² the letter says.

³Although it is very useful facility for Internet users who cannot 
afford a personal computer, it has given rise to crime through use of 
such cafes by the criminals for exchanging E-Mails etc. Daniel Pearl 
case is one unique example.²

³All ISPs will therefore keep a record of Internet cafes operating 
through their services. ISPs must pursue Internet Café owners to keep 
a register where the name of every customer should be noted along 
with his identity card number and the time he used the facility. The 
café should also keep a record of all the activities conducted on 
their personal computers for a period of 15 days t help Intelligence 
Agencies to trace the criminal in case a crime is reported and 
investigated,² the letter said. Click to View Letter : 
http://www.satribune.com/archives/nov25_dec1_02/cyber-2.jpg

Not much happened after these letters issued by the PTA as following 
the instructions meant that Cyber cafes would lose bulk of their 
business since no one will be ready to provide his ID card number to 
surf the internet.

Several reminders were issued but to no effective success. The last 
such reminder was issued on August 3, 2002 in which the desperate 
Colonel Nayyar observed that no cooperation had been forthcoming from 
ISPAK, the umbrella organization of Internet providers. Click to View 
Reminder:
http://www.satribune.com/archives/nov25_dec1_02/cyber-3.jpg

But this does not mean no monitoring is being done. All major ISP 
providers have regular visits from intelligence officials who keep a 
tab on prominent users and sensitive addresses. In some companies one 
intelligence officer is always present to check out who is doing what.

The civil rights and liberties of Pakistanis are being blatantly 
violated by these ISPs and intelligence agencies, without any check.





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