The Telecommunications Authority of Pakistan (PTA), on Tuesday, realized the media reports on the supposed availability of online subscriber data. Clarifying the reports, the authority said that it does not have or manage subscriber information, which remains the responsibility of licensed operators.
The initial review shows that the reported data sets include family details, travel records, vehicle records and CNIC copies indicating the aggregation of multiple external sources, not telecommunications operators, said a press release. PTA audits have not found violations within the licensed sector.
Read: Confidential data of thousands of Pakistani for sale online
In its continuous repression against illegal content, PTA has blocked 1,372 sites, applications and social media pages involved in sale or sharing personal data. The Interior Ministry has formed an investigation committee that is investigating the matter.
The Interior Minister took an immediate notice about the data of the citizens sold online, which caused a rapid action by the PTA and the National Cyber Crime Research Agency (NCCIA).
PTA discovered that not only websites but also numerous mobile applications were involved in illicit data trade. A specially constituted NCCIA research team, led by the additional director Mehmood-uhassan, has begun to analyze websites and applications that supposedly facilitated the sale of confidential personal information.
The sources revealed that researchers are examining whether data theft occurred before 2023 or recently. The people involved in the sale of data through digital platforms are now aimed at arrest.
The authorities have identified the offensive websites and applications, and a decision has been made to prohibit them completely. Legal action under the Law of Prevention of Electronic Crimes (PECA) will continue.
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The NCCIA research team has asked all cellular companies to present comprehensive records and are informed about data security protocols. The service providers secured total cooperation during the probe. Meanwhile, the team is also exploring other sources of potential data escape.
The Federal Committee has received instructions to finish and present recommendations to the Ministry of Interior within 14 days.
Previously, it was reported that thousands of Pakistani, including federal ministers and senior officials, are affected by a continuous violation of personal data, now available for online sale.
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The data available for the purchase include addresses of mobile SIM owners, call records, national identity card copies and travel details abroad. Records cover a wide range of individuals, from federal ministers to PTA spokesmen, and extend through government levels.
Despite a similar warning issued by Express News on October 12 of last year, the illicit trade continues, with a weak application that cannot stop the escape. The authorities, including the PTA and the NCCIA, have remained largely in silence, despite the guarantees that the offensive websites were closed.
According to the report, dozens of sites offer confidential 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 actors could exploit these data to attack victims at a minimum cost.
