The Pakistani government has recently intensified its surveillance, aiming to monitor and track the online activities of its citizens more closely.

Last month, security agencies in Pakistan were authorized to intercept phone calls, monitor WhatsApp messages, and more.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has also completed a firewall trial to regulate social media. While specific details about the software being used remain undisclosed, reports suggest that Pakistan is acquiring this technology from multiple international firms.

According to Surveillance Watch, a platform that tracks data from surveillance companies and the countries utilizing their services, Pakistan is sourcing spyware and tracking software from over 15 companies worldwide.

These firms hail from various countries, including the United States, China, and Israel.

Surveillance Watch provides an interactive map detailing global acquisitions of spying services. The platform, founded by privacy advocates who have personally experienced the impact of surveillance technology, aims to expose the companies profiting from these activities, which pose significant risks to privacy.

Pakistan is listed among the “Known Targets” on the website, which identifies each firm supplying spyware technology to the country. Notable names include Israel’s Q Cyber Technologies SARL, the parent company of the NSO Group, known for its advanced hacking tool, Pegasus. Other companies involved are Predator, Gamma Group, I-Soon, and several others.

These firms are providing a range of technologies, including facial recognition, smartphone spyware, video surveillance, voice-to-text transcription for intercepted calls, and deep packet inspection.

For more detailed information, the interactive map and additional resources are available on the Surveillance Watch website.