Athens, Dec 16 (NationPress) Pakistan operates one of the most comprehensive systems of censorship and surveillance in South Asia, characterized by internet shutdowns, restrictions on social media, and widespread monitoring of communications as part of its governance strategy, according to a report released on Tuesday.

The report from Athens-based Geopolitico reveals that the introduction of Predator, a spyware system developed by the Israeli firm Intellexa, signifies a leap forward in surveillance capabilities, allowing authorities to infiltrate devices directly rather than depending on telecom networks or service providers.

This advancement represents a significant escalation in surveillance, further compromising the safety of Pakistani activists, journalists, and lawyers who rely on encrypted communications for their work.

“On December 4, Amnesty International revealed that Pakistani individuals had been targeted with surveillance via Predator, a spyware system from Intellexa. This discovery arose from a case in Balochistan, where a human rights lawyer contacted Amnesty during the summer of 2025 after clicking a suspicious WhatsApp link. Technical analysis from Amnesty’s Security Lab confirmed the link as an attempted Predator infection, marking the first publicly reported instance of the spyware's use in Pakistan,” the report explained.

“Predator, Intellexa’s flagship product, is infamous for its '1-click' attack method: a malicious link that exploits vulnerabilities in browsers like Chrome or Safari to gain access to a device. Once installed, Predator effectively turns a smartphone into a portable surveillance center, capable of reading encrypted communications, collecting passwords, tracking movements, and silently activating microphones and cameras,” it continued.

The report highlighted that the confirmed deployment of Predator in Pakistan indicates a sharp increase in the nation's surveillance capabilities. It emphasized that in Balochistan province, which has long been afflicted by enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and heavy militarization, lawyers and human rights defenders representing families of the missing often find themselves at the intersection of the security establishment and marginalized communities.

“By targeting a human rights lawyer in Balochistan with Predator, the state has demonstrated its readiness to use invasive spyware against civil society actors, rather than confining its use to investigations of terrorism or organized crime. This undermines official claims that surveillance technologies are solely employed for national security purposes. Instead, it highlights a trend of targeting those who challenge state narratives, defend victims of abuse, or expose violations,” the report noted.

“The deployment of Predator in Pakistan is not an isolated occurrence but part of a larger trend whereby governments procure advanced surveillance tools to solidify their control over society,” it concluded.