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July 11, 2025 - Comments Off on Sindh Human Rights Commission says blasphemy laws must not be used to settle scores

Sindh Human Rights Commission says blasphemy laws must not be used to settle scores

The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has warned that repeated blasphemy accusations based on fake or unverified social media content could trigger violence and disrupt communal peace just as seen in the past. In a letter to the Umerkot SSP, the SHRC urged the police to prevent misuse of blasphemy laws, take community based preventive steps and ensure due process in sensitive cases. They also called for stricter action against those spreading hate and requested a report on police efforts by July 16.

July 10, 2025 - Comments Off on Pakistan, China agree on joint media cooperation against fake news

Pakistan, China agree on joint media cooperation against fake news

Pakistan and China have agreed to strengthen media cooperation through joint broadcasting projects and a collaborative effort to stop fake news and disinformation spreading in Pakistan. 

In Beijing, at a meeting between Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Chinese official Cao Shumin, both sides discussed expanding collaboration between state broadcasters, including a proposed agreement between PTV and CCTV. They emphasized technical training, cultural exchanges and influencer visits to boost people-to-people ties. The meeting concluded with China and Pakistan reaffirming each other to put a stop to the spread of fake news and "digital terrorism" on social media platforms.

July 10, 2025 - Comments Off on Meta, Pakistan discuss deeper cooperation in AI, digital skilling and public sector innovation

Meta, Pakistan discuss deeper cooperation in AI, digital skilling and public sector innovation

Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja met with the Meta delegation led by Sarim Aziz to discuss advancing digitalisation in Pakistan. The discussion focused on AI in public services, digital innovation and skill-building for Pakistan. The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a “Digital Pakistan,” noting PM Shehbaz Sharif’s weekly oversight of the country’s move towards a cashless economy. 

Meta also shared updates on its latest AI tools, including open-source LLaMA models and efforts to develop Urdu language AI.

July 9, 2025 - Comments Off on Rawalpindi Police arrest man for allegedly killing daughter over ‘honour’ after she refused to delete TikTok

Rawalpindi Police arrest man for allegedly killing daughter over ‘honour’ after she refused to delete TikTok

A 16-year‑old girl in Rawalpindi’s Dhok Chaudhrian area was allegedly shot and killed by her father after she refused to delete her TikTok account, as an honor killing, the Rawalpindi Police reported. The family initially reported her death as a suicide but investigation revealed it was homicide, prompting an FIR under Section 302 and Section 311 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The suspect, identified as the victim’s father, fled the scene but was later arrested along with the murder weapon. Police have formed multiple teams to conduct a thorough investigation, emphasizing that crimes against women and children are intolerable and will be prosecuted with full accountability. With a number of 346 people falling victim to honour killings from just last year’s reports, Pakistan has seen a consistent increase in honour crime.

July 9, 2025 - Comments Off on 149 arrested in online bank fraud after NCCIA raid on Faisalabad factory

149 arrested in online bank fraud after NCCIA raid on Faisalabad factory

The National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) raided a factory in Chak 54-RB near Faisalabad owned by the now fugitive Malik Tehseen Awan, which uncovered a major online fraud and hacking operation. During the raid 149 suspects were arrested, including 48 Chinese nationals and countless others who belonged from Nigeria, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Myanmar and Pakistan. The suspects were allegedly involved in hacking banking systems. Authorities seized hundreds of laptops and devices as evidence. The factory was also reportedly being used to carry out digital frauds mainly targeting financial institutions. As of now, investigations are ongoing, with the detainees being questioned for further leads.

July 9, 2025 - Comments Off on Grok posts anti-semitic content following latest update

Grok posts anti-semitic content following latest update

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/elon-musk-grok-antisemitic-posts-x-rcna217634

A recent update to Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok generated multiple antisemitic posts on X, including praise for Hitler (referring to itself as “MechaHitler), offensive references to Jewish surnames followed by  inflammatory comments about recent tragic events. One response falsely identified a person in a screenshot as “Cindy Steinberg,” accusing her of celebrating the deaths of white children in Texas floods, making derogatory remarks linked to her surname. When asked, Grok repeatedly generalized about Jewish individuals in leftist activism, using language that echoed classic antisemitic tropes. Although xAI later acknowledged the incident and claimed to implement hate speech filters, many of the posts remained online as of Tuesday evening, with some getting deleted soon after. Grok inserted such rhetoric without direct user prompts further questioning a much needed reflection on the  troubling shift in tone after Musk’s criticism of earlier versions of Grok for being too “woke”.

July 8, 2025 - Comments Off on Islamabad court orders the blocking of 27 Pakistani YouTube channels on NCCIA’s request 

Islamabad court orders the blocking of 27 Pakistani YouTube channels on NCCIA’s request 

https://www.dawn.com/news/1922836

An Islamabad court has ordered the blocking of 27 YouTube channels, including those operated by PTI and prominent journalists like Matiuallah Jan, Wajahat Khan, Ahmad Noorani and Asad Ali Toor, after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) accused them of broadcasting misleading anti-state content, invoking Section 37 (unlawful online content) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The court agreed that the channels were "propagating fake and misleading information" that could incite public unrest and directed Google to remove them from Pakistan’s YouTube platform. “You may choose to act on the said content in terms of the aforesaid court order. If you fail to do so, as per our local law obligations, we may comply with the request without further notice to you,” the notice said.

July 8, 2025 - Comments Off on Official body PVARA formed to regulate digital assets

Official body PVARA formed to regulate digital assets

https://www.dawn.com/news/1922661/regulatory-body-formed-to-oversee-digital-assets

Pakistan’s federal government has officially created the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), an independent body tasked with licensing, monitoring and supervising virtual asset service providers in line with FATF and other global standards. The federal cabinet recently approved its establishment on July 8 and once formalized through legislation, PVARA will be responsible for issuing licenses. This will set technical standards, enforcing anti-money laundering protocols mitigating cyber–financial risks across all digital transactions. This initiative is part of Pakistan’s larger strategy to position itself as a regional hub for blockchain innovation inorder to attract foreign investment ensuring public consumer protection and promoting a more inclusive yet secure digital economy.

July 8, 2025 - Comments Off on FBR to help workforce with AI integration

FBR to help workforce with AI integration

https://www.dawn.com/news/1922656/fbr-rolls-out-ai-driven-system

Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a new AI-driven Customs Clearance and Risk Management System (RMS), marking the country’s first use of artificial intelligence in its revenue operations scheme. The system employs AI and automated bots to evaluate the nature and value of imported and exported goods, aiming to reduce human errors, allowing a more streamlined tax assessment. Early testing revealed a 92% boost in system performance followed by an 83% increase in taxable goods declarations and a 2.5‑fold rise in green‑channel clearances which indicated faster custom processing. Lastly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the initiative, linking it to a broader tax-reform effort that has recovered Rs 178 billion till now furthermore urging towards a fully integrated and sustainable deployment of the system.

July 8, 2025 - Comments Off on IHC seeks proposals from journalist bodies during Peca petition hearings

IHC seeks proposals from journalist bodies during Peca petition hearings

 https://www.dawn.com/news/1922702/peca-plea-journalists-input-sought-by-ihc-on-social-media-regulation

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) is reviewing petitions filed by journalist groups including the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Islamabad High Court Journalists Association, and senior anchor Hamid Mir challenging the 2025 amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Under Justice Raja I. Ameen Minhas, the court asked these bodies to submit proposals aimed at regulating social media and scrutinizing the legal frameworks used to combat fake and defamatory content. The hearing opened with detailed arguments from PFUJ’s counsel, tracing the evolution of PECA from its original 2016 version to the newly introduced provisions such as establishing a Social Media Complaints Council that petitioners allege threaten freedom of expression and press independence. The petitioners raised serious concerns over the amendments, calling them a threat to free speech.