NCCIA unveils ‘Katalyst’, an AI system to combat online child abuse, in Islamabad
Pictured here with an award at the ceremony are Minister of State for Home Affairs and Narcotics Control, British High Commissioner for Pakistan Jane Marriott and Director General of the NCCIA. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s National Cybercrime Investigation Agency has launched an AI-powered investigation tool aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to detect, prioritize and investigate online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The system, called Katalyst, was developed through a partnership between the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control and the UK-Pakistan Serious Crime and Law Enforcement (UPSCALE) programme, funded by the British High Commission, and was officially launched at an event in Islamabad.
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Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry, British High Commissioner Jane Marriott and Director General of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Syed Khurram Ali attended the launch.
Chaudhry said protecting children from online exploitation was a “national responsibility”, adding that the use of artificial intelligence reflected Pakistan’s commitment to modernizing law enforcement and bringing perpetrators to justice. He also reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of the NCCIA, saying policy and institutional reforms must keep pace with technological changes.
National Child Rights Commission (NCRC) chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq has called for a “whole of government” approach, highlighting the commission’s work with social media platforms, public awareness campaigns and efforts towards a broader national policy to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The NCCIA chief executive said protecting children from online harms was a key priority for the agency, and said the introduction of AI would significantly increase the agency’s capacity to review referrals to the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) from around 1,200 to more than 100,000 per month.
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Commissioner Marriott said online child abuse was a global challenge that crossed borders, describing child protection as a fundamental priority for the UK, at home and abroad. She said Katalyst showed how AI could be “put to good use”, adding that the UK would continue to work closely with Pakistan to disrupt criminal networks and make the digital world safer for children.
