On Tuesday, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) took note of media reports concerning the alleged availability of data from online subscribers. Clarifying the reports, the authority has declared that it does not hold or manage information on subscribers, which remain the responsibility of the approved operators.
The initial examination shows that the indicated data sets include family details, travel files, vehicle registrations and CNIC copies indicating aggregation from several external sources, not telecommunications operators, a press release said. PTA audits found no violation in the approved sector.
Read: Sensitive data of thousands of Pakistanis online online
In its continuous repression of illegal content, PTA blocked 1,372 sites, applications and social media pages involved in the sale or sharing of personal data. The Ministry of the Interior has trained an investigation committee which is said to be the question.
The Minister of the Interior immediately pointed out the data of citizens sold online, which caused rapid action by the PTA and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
The PTA discovered that not only websites but also many mobile applications were involved in the trade in illicit data. An investigation team of seven members specially made up of seven members, led by additional director Mehmood-UL-Hassan, began to analyze both websites and applications that would have facilitated the sale of sensitive personal information.
Sources have revealed that investigators examine whether data theft occurred before 2023 or recently. The people involved in the sale of data via digital platforms are now intended for arrest.
The authorities have identified the websites and applications incriminated, and a decision was made to prohibit them completely. A legal action under the law on the prevention of electronic crimes (PECA) will follow.
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The NCCIA investigation team has asked all cell companies to submit complete files and to keep informed of data security protocols. Service providers ensured complete cooperation during the probe. Meanwhile, the team also explores other potential sources of data leakage.
The Federal Committee was invited to finalize and submit recommendations to the Ministry of the Interior within 14 days.
Earlier, it was reported that thousands of Pakistani people – including federal ministers and senior officials – would be assigned by a continuous violation of personal data, now available for online sales.
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The data available for purchase include the addresses of mobile SIM owners, call logs, copies of national identity cards and travel details abroad. The files cover a wide range of people, from federal ministers to the spokespersons of the PTA, and extend through the levels of the government.
Despite a similar warning issued by Express News on October 12 of last year, illicit trade continues, with a low application that cannot stem the leak. The authorities such as the PTA and the NCCIA have largely silent – despite the insurance that the offensive websites have been closed.
According to the report, dozens of sites offer sensitive data at low prices – mobile location data for RS500, detailed mobile records for RS2,000 and international travel details for RS5,000. Intelligence sources warn that harmful players could use this data to target victims at a minimum cost.
