‘Spreading bogus news’ is the first cybercrime case filed.
The first case for disseminating false and fraudulent news online has been filed in Karachi by the Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Saifur Rehman, a resident of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 1, is the suspect in this historic case against digital misinformation. He is accused of using social media to disseminate propaganda during the November Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest.
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) was used to file the complaint, which mentioned the use of a person’s social media account to spread false information and to disparage the government and its institutions.
The FIA claims that a technical examination of the accused’s Twitter account showed multiple posts endorsing anti-state statements. During the investigation, the account was allegedly active and regularly posted content meant to undermine governmental institutions.
The federal administration formally decided to begin a broad crackdown on those who disseminate anti-state propaganda on December 6. The operation will specifically target those who promote false information about security agencies.
With the authority to detain and investigate those involved in such activities, joint teams of security agencies and the cybercrime wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) were to be established at the federal and provincial levels.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and other relevant organizations would provide the teams with their full support. In order to guarantee the efficient tracking and investigation of social media accounts implicated in anti-national content, cybersecurity specialists would also be included, along with other required resources.
Operating under the federal government, the cybercrime squads would be able to carry out raids and arrest people anywhere in the nation. Their main duty was to locate the sources of malicious or phony accounts on social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others. The teams would be in charge of obtaining account information on social networking platforms.
On the same day, officials filed a formal complaint against 12 people who they said were targeting state institutions, disturbing public order, and publishing offensive and defamatory content on social media.
Security sources claim that the suspects were from Sanghar, Quetta, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Karachi, and Swat. Through inflammatory and disparaging social media posts, they were allegedly involved in acts that encouraged revolt and undermined governmental affairs.
To combat the proliferation of fake news and other illicit content, the federal government agreed to alter the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) on December 3.
16 categories of illegal information were listed in a draft proposal, including fake news, content that incites hostility toward government institutions, and the spread of terror and dread.
The new regulations would punish violators with a fine of Rs 1 million or up to 5 years in prison.
The creation of a Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA) to supervise content control was another feature of the plan. There would be six members and a chairperson on the authority.