Privacy violation
Privacy violation
Editorial
Editorial

Videos of a couple engaged in intimate acts inside a cinema in Lahore were leaked on social media a few days ago. The videos have generated debate on social media where a vast majority considered it “a blatant privacy violation” while the other side invoking “public indecency”.

Videos of a couple engaged in intimate acts inside a cinema in Lahore were leaked on social media a few days ago. The videos have generated debate on social media where a vast majority considered it “a blatant privacy violation” while the other side invoking “public indecency”.

However, it is widely believed that everyone has a right to privacy and no institution or individual can leak anyone’s private moments at whatsoever place without their prior approval or consent. Few months ago, someone from Safe City Project also leaked the photos of young couples while they were in their vehicles on the road.

The officials, however, denies leaking photos but no formal investigation was conducted by any third party to determine the facts of the matter. In a country where honor killing is common and women are considered symbols of men’s honor, leaking such videos can be a direct threat to someone’s life.

According to a report of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, which put the number of honor killings between June 2017 and August 2018 at 737. The total number of such murders since the organization started keeping records in 2016 stands at 15,222.

Honor killing has become almost a norm in many parts of Pakistan where women are treated as commodity and whose sole responsibility is to be submissive guardians of men’s honor and ego. According to details, Emporium Cinema in Lahore leaked the videos of young couples which annoyed the social media users and raised questions concerning public morality, individual liberty and right to privacy.

Many Pakistanis have come to the conclusion that privacy is a right, not privilege and nobody has any right to public the images or videos of anyone’s intimate moments. A cinema which made no prior announcement about the presence of cameras has breached the law concerning individuals’ right to privacy.