Senator Anusha Rahman, Head of Pakistan’s Parliamentary Delegation to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2025, delivered a powerful and thought-provoking address during the closing session of the Parliamentary Track, themed “Protecting Vulnerable Groups Online.” In her remarks, she called for unified international efforts to safeguard the dignity, safety, and well-being of vulnerable communities in the digital sphere—particularly women, girls, and children.
Reflecting on her own journey as the legislator behind Pakistan’s landmark Cybercrime Law of 2016, Senator Rahman recounted how the law introduced 28 new offences and for the first time criminalised the violation of human dignity online. She spoke candidly about the fierce opposition faced during its passage, particularly from well-funded commercial interest groups that later turned the same law into a means of revenue generation. “This is not just a national issue. It’s a global pattern—where the dignity of individuals is being compromised for commercial gain,” she said.
Senator Rahman emphasized that governments can no longer afford to remain at the mercy of multinational social media platforms when it comes to ensuring online safety. “The time has come to stop begging these platforms. We must assert our own frameworks for enforcement. We must no longer remain hostage to their goodwill,” she declared. She stressed that countries in the East and Far East operate under very different cultural and moral frameworks compared to the West, and that failure to acknowledge this disparity leads to real-life tragedies. “In our part of the world, one defamatory post can destroy a girl’s life before the content is even taken down,” she warned, adding that these realities must drive urgent collective action.
On the sidelines of the IGF, Senator Anusha Rahman held a bilateral meeting with Malaysia’s Deputy Minister for Communications, Teo Nie Ching, to further deliberate on the pressing need for regional collaboration on cybersecurity, content regulation, and digital policy alignment. Both leaders discussed challenges in enforcement, cross-border takedown mechanisms, and the development of joint strategies to counter harmful content and digital misinformation. The meeting underscored the shared concerns of countries in Asia and reaffirmed the importance of a united front in shaping ethical and culturally sensitive global digital governance.
In her address, Senator Rahman also spoke about the dual nature of digital technologies, describing them as tools that can either enlighten or endanger. While praising their potential to foster knowledge, innovation, and connection, she cautioned against their misuse as instruments of division, disinformation, and hate. She briefed the forum on key initiatives taken by the Senate of Pakistan under the leadership of Chairman Senate, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani including the development of an indigenous generative AI-based Virtual Parliamentary Clerk designed to enhance legislative productivity and efficiency.
She also spotlighted Pakistan’s broader digital development agenda—highlighting the nationwide rollout of digital skills programs, the growth of digital payment infrastructure, the expansion of national incubation centers, and the recent enactment of the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025, which provides a comprehensive framework for secure, inclusive, and rights-based digital transformation.
Senator Anusha Rahman concluded with a strong appeal to her fellow parliamentarians and global partners: “Let us not merely legislate, but collaborate—across borders, regions, and systems—to protect our people and restore dignity in the digital age.” She reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to continue engaging with the global community at future IGF forums, particularly in areas concerning digital rights, AI governance, cybersecurity, and ethical content moderation. Pakistani Ambassador in Norway Sadia Altaf was also there during IGF 2025 parliamentary track
