THE issue of Fiverr, a multinational online marketplace, and the hypocrisy surrounding the growing so-called ‘cancel culture’ is rather intriguing. I have friends who support at various forums the causes that are important to Muslims, like, say, the Palestine issue. Almost all of them also support boycott campaigns against various international brands. Surprisingly, many of them continue to be active on Fiverr, which is an Israel-owned enterprise registered and based in Tel Aviv. That many Pakistanis earn their living through the platform using fake names and photos on the platform is an ethical concern in itself.

The international economy operates independently of emotional or idealistic considerations, functioning as a neoliberal entity where market forces are the primary drivers. In Pakistan, a significant portion of global brands are locally-owned and contribute to the local economy. When these brands and outlets were boycotted, it negatively affected the local workers who lost their jobs and suffered econo- mically. Yet, there was little consideration given to how these workers would be impacted. Ironically, the very people calling for a boycott continued to associate themselves with Fiverr. This was sheer hypocrisy.

As things turned out, Fiverr and other such enterprises slowed down their operations in Pakistan due to a troubling internet infrastructure. This resulted in the loss of earning opportunities for Pakistani digital workers, which has been roundly condemned by Pakistani fre- elancers, and rightly so. I find it ironic, however, that those involved in campaigns against international chains are now affected themselves.

The situation raises questions about the moral consistency of their actions. It is important to realise that our actions based on emotions or idealism can have a more significant impact on us than on the target of our actions, especially in the context of the international market system.

Moving forward, we need to focus on developing strong and vibrant local economies, and fostering a mindset that considers the long-term impact of our actions. Boycotting or cancelling things may have short-term effects, but in the long run, the international market is bound to prevail, and we will be the ones to suffer econ- omically. We need to understand and digest the dynamics of the digital age.

Abdul Kareem
Larkana

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2024