Insularity. The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer has, for the first time in over a quarter of a century, coined trust worldwide has retreated to this psychological state that is shaped by fears and crises. 70% of 33,938 individuals across 28 countries expressed hesitancy and unwillingness to trust persons with a different way of life at […]
Category: NetMission Digest
AI Agents, Uneven Futures: Literacy, Risk, and Governance in Asia-Pacific
Welcome to Issue #6 of NetMission Digest. As we move further into 2026, the digital landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift. While the previous years were defined by generative AI, Microsoft leadership labelled 2026 the year of AI agents – systems that, unlike chatbots that respond to prompts, can independently plan, make decisions, and execute […]
Connectivity in Crisis: What the Recent Events in Balochistan, Pakistan Reveal About Digital Rights and Internet Governance
When Silence Speaks Louder Than Words In the early hours of 29–30 January 2026, as violence spread across Balochistan, another crisis unfolded alongside it: a near-total communication blackout. With internet and mobile services suspended, residents in cities such as Quetta, Mastung, Nushki, Pasni, Turbat, Panjgur, and Gwadar were left without access to timely information. People […]
Digital Rights and the Struggle for Civic Space in Pakistan
In many parts of the world, a single social media post can now trigger arrest, investigation, and public vilification. In Pakistan, the distance between a tweet and a courtroom has grown alarmingly short, reflecting a broader regional shift in how states perceive and police digital expression. Across the Asia-Pacific, governments increasingly frame online restrictions as […]
A Connected Story of AI, Security, Investment, and Risk
AI-powered cyber threats are outpacing traditional defenses. Governments are racing to enforce new data protection and AI governance rules. And across the region, from Taiwan’s new AI Basic Law to Indonesia’s first data protection penalties, a striking pattern is emerging: different countries are converging on similar structural questions about resilience, sovereignty, and trust. 🔐 From […]