The "Streisand Effect" in Pakistan: How Censorship Made a Deleted Article Go Viral

The "Streisand Effect" in Pakistan: How Censorship Made a Deleted Article Go Viral

In 2002, Kenneth and Gabrielle Edelman took to the skies over California. Armed with cameras and helicopters, their mission was scientific: a massive environmental project to document sea erosion. Out of 12,000 photos, they never imagined that Image No. 3850 would change the history of media studies and law forever.

The Malibu House and the $50 Million Lawsuit
Among the thousands of aerial shots was a distant view of a Malibu beachfront property. That house belonged to the legendary singer and actress Barbra Streisand.

For a full year, the image sat on the project’s website. During that time, it was downloaded only six times—and two of those downloads were by Streisand’s own lawyers.

Seeking to protect her privacy, Streisand sued the photographers for $50 million. The result? Total backfire. The moment the lawsuit became public, curiosity exploded. People who had no interest in coastal erosion suddenly wanted to see the "forbidden" image. Within days, millions had seen the photo.

Though the court eventually dismissed her case, the damage was done. This phenomenon was dubbed the "Streisand Effect": the act of attempting to hide, remove, or censor information that inadvertently results in the information being spread more widely.

From Malibu to Pakistan: History Repeats Itself
Two decades later, the same psychological and digital logic is playing out in Pakistan. This time, the setting isn't a beach in Malibu, but the digital media landscape of Pakistan. The subject isn't a photograph, but a hard-hitting article titled "It Is Over."

Who is Zorin Nizamani?

The article was written by Zorin Nizamani, a lawyer and journalist known for his candid analysis of Pakistan’s political and economic structures. As the son of famous actors Fazila Qazi and Qaiser Khan Nizamani, Zorin has a unique vantage point on the country's social fabric.

What was "It Is Over" about?

Published in The Express Tribune, the column was a critique of:

• The Power Structure: Questioning the "old guard" of Pakistani politics.

• Generation Z’s Frustration: Addressing the inequality and the massive "brain drain" of the youth.

• The Narrative Gap: How the youth no longer buy into the "worn-out narratives" of the ruling class.

The Digital Backfire: When Deleting Becomes Loud
If the column had remained on the website, it likely would have reached a niche audience of English-speaking elites. However, it was suddenly deleted. No editorial note, no correction, just... gone.

In the past, controlling the English media in Pakistan was easier because its reach was limited. But in the age of screenshots and social media, digital content never truly dies.

Tags:

• What is the Streisand Effect in Pakistan?

• Zorin Nizamani deleted article "It is Over"

• Barbra Streisand Malibu photo lawsuit history

• Why English media is censored in Pakistan

• Impact of digital media on freedom of speech in Pakistan

• Fazila Qazi son Zorin Nizamani article