Islamabad:
Several websites offering mobile data have been blocked, although some sites remain operational when citizens’ data continues to be sold.
On Sunday, the Minister of the Interior Mohin Naqvi took note of the illegal sale of private data from citizens on various Internet platforms after Express News stressed the problem in an exclusive report. Express News had put the question in the spotlight first in October 2024.
Express News revealed on Sunday that despite its previous report, private data from Pakistani citizens – federal ministers and senior officials for ordinary people – are available for sale on various websites without any government authority does not take any measure.
According to the report, dozens of websites exist online when citizens’ data is openly listed for sale, with fixed rates. On these platforms, the location of the mobile phone is available for RS500, details of mobile data records for RS3,500 and foreign travel details for 5,000 rupees.
They also provide information related to an international mobile equipment identity number (IMEI) for RS25,000 while colorful copies of the computerized national identity cards (CNIC) of citizens are also sold on these sites.
The Minister of the Interior asked the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to carry out a quick investigation. In accordance, the NCCIA registered office has published an official notification constituting a special survey team.
According to sources, the team is supervised by the additional director of the NCCIA Islamabad. The members include the security of the deputy director Akram Mughal, the deputy director CCRC Imran Haider, the deputy director Forensics Muzammil Hussain, the investigations of the inspector Badr Shehzad and the Assistant Technical Cybercrime Anis Ur Rehman.
The notification also indicated that the special team will have the power to induct representatives of any institution or agency if necessary.
