Islamabad High Court (IHC) has raised serious concerns about a potential mass surveillance program following revelations during a hearing last month. The court documents allege Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) directed telecom companies to implement a system called the Lawful Intercept Management System (LIMS).
According to the documents, LIMS grants access to a vast amount of user data, including private messages, video/audio content, call records, and web browsing histories. Justice Babar Sattar of the IHC expressed alarm, noting that “designated agencies” were utilizing LIMS for surveillance purposes.
The program’s scope is particularly concerning. PTA’s directive reportedly mandated telecom companies to facilitate surveillance on 2% of their customer base, potentially impacting over four million citizens.
Justice Sattar further criticized the program’s lack of legal grounding and oversight. He highlighted that the mass surveillance operated without judicial or executive authorization. While LIMS allows access to encrypted data, it reportedly lacks the capability to automatically decrypt it.
The court’s findings raise questions about the legality and transparency of government surveillance practices in Pakistan. The case is likely to be closely watched as it sheds light on potential privacy violations and the need for robust legal frameworks for data collection and surveillance.
