An Islamabad-based media watchdog has welcomed the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements between Google and the Pakistan government, but raised concerns over the lack of publicly available details about the arrangements.
The Freedom Network said Google’s establishment of an office in Pakistan could support the country’s digital development goals, but stressed that the government and the technology company should disclose the agreements, contracts and other arrangements signed between them.
The watchdog questioned what exactly had been agreed and whether all MoUs, contracts and related documents would be made public.
“If some provisions must remain confidential, who decided that and under what law?” the organisation asked.
Freedom Network also sought clarification on whether the agreements included any undisclosed commitments relating to access to user data, content, metadata or government databases.
It questioned the circumstances under which Pakistani authorities could request information about Google users and whether such requests would require a valid legal process and judicial oversight.
The watchdog also asked whether Google would reject requests that were overly broad, vague or inconsistent with fundamental rights.
Particular concern was raised over the protection of journalists’ data, including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, YouTube accounts and search-related information that could potentially expose confidential sources.
Freedom Network called for clear safeguards against government access to such information and urged Google to ensure that content is not removed solely at the request of a government agency.
It further called for requests to block or remove content to be assessed under transparent legal standards, with users receiving notice and an opportunity to challenge decisions where legally possible.
The watchdog also raised questions about where Pakistani users’ data would be stored as the country develops a national data-governance framework focused on data sovereignty, limited disclosure and citizens’ right to know who has accessed their information.
“Will Pakistani users’ data be stored in Pakistan, overseas, or both?” the organisation asked.
Freedom Network stressed that there should be no informal or undocumented data-sharing arrangements between Google and the Pakistan government.
It also called for independent oversight of Google’s compliance with privacy and human-rights safeguards in Pakistan, saying such monitoring should not be carried out solely by the government.
