UNITED NATIONS – Pakistan has raised alarm over the strategic manipulation of information by occupying powers to distort facts, suppress dissent, and justify repression, urging the international community to combat the weaponization of information.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee, which addresses special political and decolonization issues, Amanat Ali, Press Counsellor at Pakistan’s Mission to the UN, said that internet shutdowns, restrictive media laws, and digital surveillance are being used to silence resistance movements and manufacture a false image of peace.
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“This systemic information repression conceals human rights violations and contradicts international law,” Ali emphasized, warning that deliberate distortion of facts undermines trust in global institutions and damages multilateral cooperation.
He said that information must serve as a public good and shared responsibility, not as a tool of control or propaganda. “Where information should serve humanity and foster understanding, its misuse corrodes public trust and sows polarization,” he added.
Highlighting the dual nature of emerging technologies, Ali noted that artificial intelligence and generative tools could enhance governance if used ethically, but when weaponized, they have the potential to deceive, manipulate, and distort reality.
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He also stressed the need to bridge digital divides to ensure equitable access to technology, calling it essential for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Addressing the rise of hate speech, Islamophobia, and xenophobia, the Pakistani delegate called for stronger international action and responsible digital governance to promote tolerance and pluralism.
“Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to accurate, inclusive, and ethical information as a force for good,” Ali said, voicing support for the UN Department of Global Communications and its mission to build a more transparent and accountable global information ecosystem.
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