The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) was established by the federal government to address cybercrime in the nation.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will stop operating as a designated investigation agency under the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act, 2016, according to a notification published in The Gazette of Pakistan by the information ministry. The NCCIA will also assume authority under the Act.
The notification states that all employees, cases, inquiries, investigations, assets, liabilities, rights, obligations, privileges, and matters pertaining to or associated with them that were a part of the FIA’s former cybercrime wing immediately prior to the effective date of these rules will be transferred to the NCCIA.
According to the notification, the new agency will be led by a director general and will also include additional directors general, directors, assistant directors, deputy directors, and other officers as the director general may decide.
The Director General, a grade 21 or 22 official, would be selected by the Federal Government for a two-year tenure. The NCCIA Director General will have the same authority as an Inspector General of Police.
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In Pakistan, a variety of cybercrimes will be investigated and dealt with by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
It will cover the following important areas, to name a few:
- These include financial crimes carried out through digital means, such as credit card scams, identity theft, and fraud involving online banking.
- Cyberbullying, stalking, and online harassment will all be looked into by the NCCIA. This includes unwelcome communication via social media or other platforms, abusive communications, and threats.
- The organisation will concentrate on instances in which unapproved users obtain confidential information, violate databases, or damage computer networks. Both public and private networks are included in this.
- Cases involving online blackmail or extortion are under the NCCIA’s jurisdiction. Threats to divulge sensitive information or demand ransom money are a couple examples of this.
- The agency will look into cases of cyber espionage, state-sponsored hacking, and attacks on vital infrastructure. The security of the country is threatened by these actions.
- The NCCIA will deal with instances of false profile creation, disseminating false information, and exploiting social media sites for illicit activities. This involves locating the people who are using fictitious accounts.
- The agency will look into a variety of internet fraud schemes, including investment fraud, phishing, and lottery frauds. Preserving citizens’ finances is a top concern.
- The NCCIA will fight against child exploitation, including instances of grooming, child trafficking, and child pornography made possible by online platforms.
- The agency will deal with cases of intellectual property theft, software piracy, and copyright infringement.
- The NCCIA will work with other authorities to stop cyberterrorism, keep an eye out for extremist content on the internet, and find those who are participating in radicalization campaigns.
This action shows the government’s dedication to combating cybercrime and making sure that individuals are using the internet in a safer environment.