Cyber Crimes in Pakistan

 

Cyber Crimes in Pakistan

“The proposed Prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2015, in my opinion, is even worse than the one we advocated against during the Musharraf era.  The fact that the Ministry of IT&T felt the need to operate in complete secrecy over the past year clearly indicates the mindset with which this draft has been put together. P@SHA, ISPAK, legal cybercrime experts and civil society were not called in for a consultation.”


Cybercrime in Pakistan has expanded as global digital vulnerabilities have grown. The rise of the internet and digital services has offered thieves additional opportunities to exploit weaknesses. When it comes to technology, Pakistan is still a growing country. Ransomware, data leaks, cyber espionage, and financial theft all impact Pakistan. Using fake payments from BankIslami, hackers pilfers $6 million in 2018. In the same year, 14 million Careem members were harmed by a data breach. These occurrences emphasize the necessity for cybersecurity. Cybercrime reports to the FBI surged 83% in 2020, suggesting a rise in knowledge and frequency of the crime. Pakistan needs extensive digital infrastructure protection after these occurrences.

Types of Cyber Crimes

Pakistan's rising digitization and internet use have made cybercrime a significant issue. Here, a thorough analysis of various types of cybercrimes is given. These cybercrimes are common in Pakistan and emphasize the legislative measures put in place to address these problems.

·      Unauthorized Data Access: A typical cybercrime is unauthorized computer access and data interference. These include data theft, system hacking, and data deletion. Section 3 of the Prevention of Electronic acts Act, 2016 (PECA), which imposes severe penalties on offenders, expressly names these acts.

·    Cyber Terrorism: Cyberterrorism is the use of the internet to threaten or control governments or society, therefore acting as a weapon. It involves propaganda, terrorism recruitment, and attack planning. The Cyberterrorism Section 10 of the Penal Enforcement Act imposes harsh penalties on individuals found guilty.

·         Threats of Violence: Online threats of violence are getting worse. Digital media spread religious, racial, gender, and other discrimination, hatred, and violence. Section 11 of the PECA notes the penalties for disseminating hate speech via electronic media.

·         E-fraud: Cyberfraud includes phishing, online fraud, and illicit financial transactions. PECA Section 13 details this crime and imposes severe fines and jail term.

·   Theft of Identity: Identity theft is the taking of private information for financial gain involving another person. This covers actions such as faking profiles or breaking into individual accounts. PECA's Section 16 on identity theft guarantees legal punishment for anyone who engage in it.  

·         SIM Card Issuing: Policies Illegal SIM card issuing and use are major problems connected to terrorism and fraud. Under PECA Section 17 SIM card distribution and use are tightly controlled and punished.  

·         Privacy Violations: Privacy issues arise from illegal access and exposure of personal data including messages, pictures, and videos. People's safety and identities might suffer greatly from these transgressions. PECA Section 21 protects victims from such abuses via legal means.  

·         Peer pressure through electronic means:  If you bother, threaten, or watch someone online, you are stalking online them. This can involve tracking someone somewhere with GPS, sending threatening texts, or breaking into personal accounts. Comprehensive protection against cyberstalking is offered by Section 24 of PECA.

·         Spamming: Unsolicited bulk messages, generally for advertising, can disrupt systems and infringe privacy. Section 25 of PECA controls and punishes spamming, protecting electronic communication.

·         Child Pornography: Crimes of child pornography distribution, production, and possession carry harsh penalties. Section 22 of PECA deals with this crime and lists strong punishments to stop people from doing it and keep children safe.

·         Laws and enforcement: PECA is the most critical law in Pakistan's solid legal system for fighting cyber crimes. The FIA investigates and prosecutes violators of these laws.

 


Pakistani Cybercrime Prevention Strategies

 

Pakistan may dramatically reduce cyber crimes and improve cyber security by following these strategies.

·         Expanding Legal Frameworks and Enforcement: Pakistan took a big step toward fighting hacking with PECA 2016. Cybercrime, such as hacking into computers without permission, cyberterrorism, and electronic scams, are all made illegal by this act. Lack of technical competence and resources in law enforcement agencies has hampered PECA implementation. Pakistan needs to  Update and expand existing laws to cover emerging cyber threats comprehensively. In 2018, just 18% of cybercrime charges led to convictions, according to the FIA. Improved legal frameworks can increase this rate.

·         Increasing Public Awareness and Education: In Pakistan, there still needs to be more institutional and public knowledge of cyber dangers. Cybercrime threats are underestimated, leaving many people and businesses vulnerable. Lack of understanding hinders fundamental cybersecurity procedures like secure passwords and software updates. The 2019 P@SHA poll found that 78% of respondents needed to know basic cyber security.

·   Development of Technical Proficiency: Pakistan needs more qualified cybersecurity specialists. Businesses need help to defend against complicated cyberattacks and recover from incidents due to this gap. It takes education and training to build a cybersecurity workforce. According to PISA, Pakistan lacked 50,000 cyber security experts in 2022. Pakistan needs to Establish specialized training programs and certifications in cyber security.

·         Making public-private partnerships stronger: There has been a steady rise in the global incidence of cybercrimes. "The average number monthlyy complaints receivedmonth has doubled in just the last four years," reported FIA. Pakistan must promote intelligence and resource sharing between the government, the corporate sector, and foreign organizations. More than 5,000 cyberattacks were reported in 2020; joint efforts could lessen their damage. 

·    Establishing Cyber Response Teams: Pakistan needs to form dedicated cyber response teams to address and mitigate cyber-attacks swiftly. These teams, like international CERT (Computer Emergency Reaction Teams), can reduce cyber incident reaction times and harm.

 Conclusion

To fight cybercrimes including hate speech, electronic fraud, identity theft, cyberterrorism, and illegal access, Pakistan must move quickly and in a variety of ways. Among the most important projects are modernizing the cyberinfrastructure, increasing awareness, and enhancing the legislative framework. Enforcing strict data privacy laws and developing strong public-private collaborations are also essential. These methods can reduce cyber dangers and secure the digital world in Pakistan. The government must address these growing concerns, the corporate sector and individual efforts to make cyberspace safer and more robust.

 

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