The Rise of Digital Authoritarianism in Pakistan

Pakistan has spied on its citizens for decades. Technology is making that even easier.

According to a recent report by Amnesty International, titled “Shadow of Control: Censorship and Mass Surveillance in Pakistan,” Pakistani authorities are monitoring more than 4 million citizens using advanced tools purchased from foreign private companies, such as China’s Geedge Network.

At the core of Pakistan’s surveillance operation are two powerful systems: the Web Monitoring System (WMS 2.0), which acts as a national firewall that can block internet access, virtual private networks (VPNs), and specific websites, and the Lawful Intercept Management System (LIMS), a mass surveillance platform that allows authorities to eavesdrop on phone calls, text messages, internet activities, and even geolocation data through domestic telecommunications providers.

The earlier version of the WMS or WMS 1.0. in Pakistan was enabled by a Canadian company. A newer version, also known as the National Firewall, was put into place in 2023 using technology from Geedge Network.

LIMS is supported by technology primarily supplied by a German company, Utimaco, and an Emirati company, Datafusion. Utimaco’s LIMS enables authorities to analyze subscriber data from telecommunications companies, while the processed information is accessible through Datafusion’s Monitoring Center Next Generation (McNG).

The methods may have c