DG NCCIA Official Warns Against Creating Fake Images of Women

ISLAMABAD: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has come into focus following a strongly worded warning by an official against the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) to create, manipulate or circulate fake photographs and videos of women on social media.

In a video circulating on social media, a uniformed official appearing against the backdrop of NCCIA insignia delivers a warning to individuals using digital technology to target women through fabricated or manipulated visual content.

The video, shared by the social media news platform News World Pakistan, carries the Urdu headline “Jo Yeh Harkat Karega, Wo Gaya,” suggesting serious consequences for those engaging in such activities.

According to the accompanying social media account, the warning specifically concerns individuals who create or distribute AI-generated pictures, digitally altered photographs and fabricated videos involving women without their consent.

The message emphasizes that the misuse of emerging technologies to damage an individual’s dignity, reputation or privacy can expose those responsible to legal proceedings.

Growing Concerns Over AI-Generated Content

The increasing accessibility of artificial intelligence applications has raised concerns about the unauthorized manipulation of personal photographs and videos.

Modern AI tools can produce convincing synthetic images, alter facial appearances and generate videos depicting events that never occurred. When such technology is deliberately misused, it can create serious privacy and reputational risks.

Women can be particularly vulnerable when publicly available photographs are manipulated and circulated in misleading contexts without their knowledge or permission.

The NCCIA official’s warning, as presented in the circulated video, highlights the importance of holding individuals accountable for the harmful use of digital technology rather than treating fabricated online material as harmless entertainment.

Legal Consequences Under Pakistan’s Cybercrime Laws

Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, as amended, provides legal mechanisms for addressing certain forms of online harassment, privacy violations and the distribution of harmful digital content.

Section 20 deals with specified offences involving knowingly false information that harms an individual’s reputation or privacy, while Section 21 addresses particular forms of digitally manipulated or intimate content, including the superimposition of a person’s face onto explicit imagery.

Depending on the circumstances and applicable legal provisions, individuals found responsible for qualifying offences may face imprisonment, financial penalties or both following lawful investigation and judicial proceedings.

However, the creation of AI-generated content is not automatically a criminal offence. Legal liability depends on the nature of the material, the conduct involved and whether the statutory requirements of an offence are satisfied.

NCCIA’s Role in Addressing Digital Complaints

The NCCIA is the federal agency responsible for investigating offences falling within its jurisdiction under Pakistan’s cybercrime legislation.

Its functions include examining electronic evidence, investigating reported cybercrime incidents and pursuing appropriate legal proceedings.

The agency also maintains specialized reporting facilities through which citizens can lodge complaints concerning online misconduct.

Individuals affected by manipulated photographs, impersonation or other potentially unlawful digital activities can submit complaints through the NCCIA’s official online portal at complaint.nccia.gov.pk or contact its helpline at 1799.

Islamabad residents can also approach the NCCIA’s local office in Sector G-13/3, where relevant complaints can be pursued according to the agency’s procedures.

Affected individuals are advised to preserve relevant screenshots, account details, web links and communication records that may assist investigators in examining their complaints.

Emphasis on Responsible Technology Use

The warning comes amid growing public discussion about the responsible use of artificial intelligence and the protection of personal dignity in digital spaces.

While AI offers significant opportunities for innovation, creativity and communication, its misuse to fabricate harmful representations of individuals presents challenges for privacy protection and digital accountability.

The NCCIA-related video reinforces the message that online conduct is subject to applicable laws and that digital platforms should not be used to undermine the dignity and privacy of others.

The original recording’s date, the speaking official’s identity and the precise wording of the full statement have not been independently established from the circulated excerpt.