There is a race on digital platforms to gain overnight fame. A strong desire to become viral has started denting the ethical barriers because most of the contestants want to ascend without doing anything worthwhile. The unprofessional approach of novices has emerged as a source of annoyance in almost every domain where the digital hawks are trying their blunted swords.
It seems that every adult in the country is amply qualified to tackle complicated issues ranging from national affairs, international politics, regional security, healthcare, religion, arts, science and motivational interactions. Anyone having access to studio and musical instruments is a maestro of his own kind. From cancer to aids; local researchers have explored the simple cures which are cost-effective.
Then we have religious scholars of many brands in abundance. They are firebrand orator, debaters, sectarian agitators, preachers, researchers and so on. Most intriguingly strange among the digital hawks are the current affairs analysts. Their business of verbal jugglery revolves around sensational breaking news, scandals, big predictions and accusations. YouTube and multiple digital platforms are now available to them round the clock where they raise storms in the cup of tea with almost zero restrictions and editorial supervision.
One may appreciate it as a sign of liberty but a lawless society eventually confronts many troubles. Society in Pakistan has reached that stage very fast due to the rapid ingress of unregulated digital platforms. Deterioration caused by social media platforms is deep and multifarious. With excessive use of slang and distasteful taunting commentaries, social media influencers have introduced a culture of cheapness.
This may be termed as the death of decency and logic. The worst of this tendency pops up in the form of trolling and online harassment. Shadowy key board influencers attack the chosen target systematically with abuses, allegations without evidences and fabricated disinformation. Victims of online crimes belong to all walks of life.
Politicians, showbiz celebrities, top businessmen, journalists, judges and important state institutions including the armed forces and judiciary have suffered the heinous social media disinformation attacks. Recent past incidences reveal a dangerous pattern of targeting the state with obvious intent to ignite mass insurrection across the country.
This important aspect merits due attention that besides the criminals, political agitators and media exploiters all digital platforms are being intensively misused by the banned hardcore terrorist and separatist organizations. In this context, the federal government seems justified in the implementation of countermeasures through the constitutional process of legislation.
The formation of the Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA) should not be opposed or hindered for petty political reasons. Absence of effective legislation to deal with digital disinformation, blackmailing, harassing, incitement of violation and anti-state activities including terrorism. This vulnerability has been repeatedly exploited by foreign and local players to destabilize Pakistan. The most recent example is the chaos spread systematically across Pakistan about the abrupt outbreak of violent unrest in Kyrgyzstan.
On one hand, the state and its all concerned officials were fully alive to the situation and striving for the safety of Pakistani stranded students. On the other hand, mills of rumors were spreading inflammable content on digital platforms which multiplied the agony of thousands of families and dented the repute of government. The targeted use of fabricated malicious content was thoroughly referred to in a lengthy report published by BBC Urdu.
Later on, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan Totuiaev Ulanbek precisely pointed out the key role of the poisonous digital campaign which actually converted the dispute between Egyptian and Kyrgyz students into a wider crisis leading to violence, unrest and chaos. The recurrence of similar toxic campaigns in Pakistan is neither a coincidence nor a natural flow of public discourse. Public protests in AJK on governance-related issues were exploited on digital domains to incite violence and hatred against the state.
The demands of the protestors were agreed through dialogue but efforts to destabilize the country are still on. Here we should not forget the mega Indian Disinformation Network exposed by the EU Disinfo Lab. India has been pursuing the demonization and destabilization of Pakistan with more than six hundred fake news platforms. Socio-political turbulence during the past two years and unwise ways of our political leadership are providing many exploitable gaps to foreign forces.
Keeping cyber frontiers unguarded in a given situation would push Pakistan towards more social disaster and chaos. Journalist bodies advocating for the noble cause of freedom of the press should judge the matter on merit and come up with relevant recommendations to make the legislation more balanced, effective and objective. Fake journalists, propagandists and exploiters hiding in the ranks and files of genuine media should be sorted and flushed out for the larger good of society.
