NCCIA Launches Major Crackdown on Fake News, Blackmailing
Fresh reports suggest the cybercrime agency is identifying social media accounts allegedly linked to false content and online blackmailing, as authorities intensify scrutiny of digital platforms.
ISLAMABAD: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has reportedly stepped up scrutiny of social media activity as part of a broader drive against alleged fake content, online blackmailing and misuse of digital platforms.
According to a report attributed to journalist Rana Ashraf, the agency has begun preparing lists of social media accounts for scrutiny. However, Islamabad Tribune could not independently verify from an official NCCIA announcement the specific claim that new account lists are currently being compiled, or the number and identities of accounts potentially under review.
Agency Expands Focus on Online Offences
The development comes against the backdrop of an intensified NCCIA campaign against cyber offences. The agency’s official website identifies cyber investigation, digital forensics and prosecution among its core functions and specifically lists malicious false content used to harm reputation or facilitate blackmail among forms of online harassment.
Recent enforcement actions also indicate increased attention to alleged misuse of social media. In July, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported that NCCIA arrested four suspects during operations in Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan over allegations involving online blackmailing, harassment and fake social media accounts. Digital devices were seized for forensic examination, according to the agency’s spokesperson.
Fake Accounts Also Raised in Senate Briefing
The scale of concern surrounding fake accounts has also been raised before Parliament. During a Senate committee briefing earlier this year, officials said approximately 140 million people in Pakistan were active in cyberspace and estimated that around 20 percent of social media accounts were fake, with such accounts sometimes being used for fraud, harassment and blackmailing.
Separately, a September 16 report said NCCIA had registered a case concerning allegedly misleading social media posts and described a broader focus on organised disinformation, deepfakes and impersonation. Those allegations remain subject to investigation and applicable legal proceedings.
Any identification of an account for scrutiny does not by itself establish wrongdoing. Liability in an individual case would depend on evidence, investigation and the applicable legal process.
