The evil of cyber crime prevails in this age of social media and globalization when the world has shrunk to the screens, and everything is just a click away. Today, cyber crimes have surpassed illegal drug trafficking as a criminal money making. The facts depict that every three seconds somebody’s identity is stolen because of cybercrime. Hacking, financial frauds, digital piracy, malicious software are some types of cybercrime. However, Identity theft, cyber bullying, cyber stalking, cyber-pornography, and child pornography are some of the forms of cybercrimes that cause more havoc to the society on moral grounds. These forms depict the deterioration of morality in a society.
When talking about morality, the definition of morality needs to be understood first. It is a subjective matter for societies. If something is wrong for someone on moral grounds might not be wrong for the other one on the same grounds. cybercrime is, in reality, a moral crime where the criminals take advantage of computer screens by taking refuge behind them.
Identity theft, cyber bullying, cyber harassment, and cyber stalking have become rampant in the presence of different social media platforms. Securing one’s privacy has become almost unavoidable. Anyone and everyone can fall a prey to these moral offences. Cyber bullying has become a norm in the form of mean and derogatory comments and memes particularly under public profiles.
Cyber-pornography is another heinous face of cybercrime that is not even considered a crime among many individuals. It is the act of using cyberspace to create, display, distribute, import, or publish pornography or obscene materials, especially materials depicting children engaged in sexual acts with adults or adults as well. It is a criminal offence as well as a moral offence. It causes harm to human beings of every age particularly youth. The harms are not just sexual in nature, rather psychological as well that ultimately impact the social fabric of a society.
Pornography material is banned in Pakistan since every year Pakistan is among the list of top porn-searching and porn-viewing countries. Child pornography is also illegal in Pakistan; contrarily, mounting sexual crimes against children in Pakistan narrate another tale. Child-pornography is seen as a lucrative business among the mafias where the people who are involved in it are often linked to the international child pornography links.
Cyber laws exist around the world and Pakistan is no exception as it has three cybercrime laws in the country that deal with different categories of crimes in the country. Those three laws are:
- Electronic Transaction Ordinance (ETO) 2002
- Electronic/Cyber Crime Bill 2007
- Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016
These laws depict that the problem does not lie with laws in Pakistan. Making laws and implementing them effectively in a country are two opposite things. A law without implementation is just a toothless law. In Pakistan, the problem lies with awareness about laws. People are not aware of such laws and the ways they can take benefit from them. In order to counter cybercrime and making cyberspace a safe space for common internet user of every gender, there is a need to give awareness to people.
The National Response Centre for Cyber Crime (NR3C) comes under the supervision of the Federal Investigation Agency. It acts as a cyber law enforcement body in Pakistan. NR3C is the platform to report cybercrime in Pakistan. According to the website of NR3C official website, it has expertise in Digital Forensics, Information System Security Audits, Technical Investigation, Penetration Testing, and relevant training.
Cybercrime Reporting in Pakistan
- Cybercrime Reporting in Islamabad:
- Cyber Crime Wing Headquarters/National Response Centre for Cyber Crime
- Address: 2nd floor, National Police Foundation Building, Mauve Area, Sector G-10/4, Islamabad.
- Helpline: 1991
- Phone: +9251 9106384
- Email: helpdesk@nr3c.gov.pk
- FIA (Federal Investigation Agency)
- FIA Cyber Crime Cell Islamabad
Address: Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat, G-8/1, Islamabad Capital Territory
- Website for filing complaint online: http://complaint.fia.gov.pk/
- FIA Headquarters
Helpline: 111-345-786
Address: FIA Headquarters, Muhammad Tufail Niazi Road, G 9/4, Islamabad
- Cyber Crime Reporting in Punjab:
- Cyber Crime Complaint Registration Service
Cyber Rescue Helpline: 1991
- Cyber Bullying Wing Rawalpindi
Address: The Professionals Plaza, 7A west service road, new gulzar-e-Quaid, Islamabad Expressway, near karal Chowk, Rawalpindi
- Punjab Police Women Safety App.
- App has multiple features for emergency situation there is a “panic button” and “alert 15”.
- To prevent domestic violence, this app has features like “secure” and “partially secure” etc to keep the police alert and updated.
- This app also has a live chat option to inform an emergency
- Victims can also share their locations so police can keep a track of them.
- This app also has One Click Call feature for helpline.
- Rescue helpline is 1122