CURBING ‘DIGITAL TERRORISM’ THROUGH NATIONAL CYBER CRIME INVESTIGATION AGENCY

Malik Zaeem

The point is that we are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue,
and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to
show that we were right. Intellectually, it is possible to carry on this process for an
indefinite time: the only check is that sooner or later, a false belief bumps up against
solid reality, usually on the battlefield.” These words of George Orwell stand true today,
as fake news, propaganda and misinformation are the new weapons in this ‘post-truth’
world. These weapons tend to rupture the social fabric of society and pose a greater
challenge to the national integration and stability of a state. Similarly, Pakistan is also
facing a challenge of ‘digital terrorism’, as pointed out by the Chief of Army Staff, and
has constituted a new authority to curb the menace of this new form of terrorism which
is a design of a few inimical forces to create a division between state institutions and
the people of Pakistan.
The federal government has designed an efficient way to combat digital terrorism by
notifying the establishment of the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency
(NCCIA), rendering the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing as
defunct. The NCCIA was formed under Section 51 of the Prevention of Electronic
Crimes Act 2016 (Peca) and the FIA would now cease to perform functions as the
designated investigation agency under the act. It further stated that the NCCIA would
now be in charge of all ongoing staff, resources, obligations, rights, privileges, and
inquiries and investigations pertaining to the FIA’s former Cybercrime Wing.
According to the Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, the government established this
body to protect citizens’ digital rights and thwart the propagation of misinformation and
hoaxes on social media. Other online crimes such as harassment and defamation
campaigns are also put to check under this authority.
Few inimical elements and rights bodies have criticized these measures of Pakistan’s
government, accusing it of gagging the press and political opponents by cracking down
on free speech and dissent on social media via the FIA, and now through NCCIA.
These elements are mentally captivated to the extent that they have no idea that
Pakistan is not the first country to have such laws and authorities. Canada’s Online
Harm Act (BILL C-63), introduced on February 26, 2024, to promote online safety in
Canada, follows similar regulatory frameworks as are in Europe, the UK, and Australia.
As per bill C-63, online Platforms must promptly remove harmful content or face
significant penalties. Harmful content includes child sexualization, victim revictimization, terrorism promotion, violence incitement, and hate speech. Amendments
have also been done in the Criminal Code to increase penalties for online hate and
advocating genocide. The Canadian government also plans to establish a digital
safety ombudsperson to support victims and guide social media companies.
Companies failing to comply could face fines up to 6% of their gross revenues.
Moreover, Meta, a parent company of Facebook and Instagram, expressed support
and willingness to collaborate for online safety.
Similarly, the Government of Malaysia issued the Emergency (Essential Powers)
(No.2) Ordinance 2021 to curb the proliferation of fake news and disinformation. It was
an aggravated reincarnation of the country’s Anti-Fake News Act (AFNA) of 2018 that
had been repealed in 2019. If any of the following occurs “with intent to cause, or which
is likely to cause fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public,” then
Section 4 of this Ordinance makes it illegal to create, offer, publish, print, distribute,
circulate, or disseminate any fake news or publications containing fake news.
Financial support for the purpose of committing or facilitating the commission of an
infraction under Section 4 is prohibited by Section 5 of the Ordinance. The clause is
nearly identical to that found in AFNA, down to the original penalty of 500,000 ringgit
or six years. It debunks the propaganda disseminated on social media Pakistan is
doing something extraordinary which was has not been done by any other country.
The issue of manipulating “fake news” through mass and social media has to be
addressed immediately since it is seriously affecting elections, continuing political
processes, and the legislative efforts made to thwart the spread of misleading
information. The phenomenon of false news is not new; it has been recognized since
antiquity. However, with the widespread use of digital and social media platforms in
the modern day, which enable far wider information dissemination to a worldwide
audience, the necessity to combat fake news has become even more critical.
The digital terrorism in Pakistan has gained quite a bit of momentum in previous years.
It is crystal that Pakistan’s rogue eastern neighbor has always tried to cash in on its
agendas through inimical elements to tarnish the image of Pakistan. The fear that
these elements feel from Pakistan is due to the strong bond that people of Pakistan
and its army share, and it is their long unfulfilled wish to rupture this bond. It cannot
be further debated that the establishment of agencies like National Cyber Crimes
Investigation Agency was the need of hour. The responsibility also lies on the
shoulders of the masses to put their trust in state institutions as for them, national
interest is and has always been paramount