Islamabad-based media watchdog Freedom Network has called on Google and the Pakistan government to disclose safeguards around their recent partnership. The group is particularly focused on user privacy, surveillance and access to personal data. In an open letter issued on September 16, Freedom Network welcomed the agreements Google signed with the government. However, it flagged serious concerns over the lack of publicly available details.
The watchdog asked what exactly the two parties had agreed upon so far. It also questioned whether the memorandums, contracts and other arrangements would ever reach the public. Additionally, it wanted to know who would decide if certain provisions should stay confidential, and under what law. Freedom Network further sought clarity on whether the deal contains undisclosed commitments involving user data or metadata.
The group also asked under what circumstances Pakistani authorities could request information about Google users. It questioned whether such requests would require valid legal processes and judicial oversight. Meanwhile, the watchdog specifically demanded safeguards protecting journalists’ Gmail, Drive, YouTube and search-related information. This data, it argued, could otherwise expose confidential sources to unwanted scrutiny.
Freedom Network also urged Google to avoid removing content solely at a government agency’s request. Instead, it wants authorities to assess such requests under transparent legal standards. Users, the group added, should receive notice and a real chance to challenge decisions. Furthermore, the watchdog questioned where Pakistani citizens’ data would ultimately end up.
This concern comes as Pakistan develops a national data governance framework centered on sovereignty and minimum disclosure. “Will Pakistani users’ data be stored in Pakistan, overseas, or both?” Freedom Network asked directly. It also called for an end to any informal or undocumented data-sharing arrangements. Still, neither Google nor the government has publicly addressed these questions.
The watchdog additionally asked who would independently audit Google’s compliance with privacy and human rights safeguards. It argued that the government alone should not oversee this responsibility. Finally, Freedom Network insisted that genuine transparency demands more than vague assurances from either side. Instead, the group wants binding, publicly verifiable commitments before public trust can fully recover.
