Authorities bust 139 online platforms trading Pakistani citizens’ data

ISLAMABAD: Authorities have uncovered 139 online platforms involved in illegally selling the personal information of Pakistani citizens, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

According to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), the network comprised mobile applications, websites, and social media accounts actively engaged in trading sensitive data.

Investigators traced 18 mobile apps, 17 websites, and two YouTube channels, in addition to dozens of social media pages — including 75 on Facebook, 10 on Instagram, 12 on Telegram, and 10 on TikTok.

Officials further revealed that some of the compromised data was being circulated through WhatsApp groups.

Following NCCIA’s findings, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has already blocked the identified platforms in the first stage of the operation.

The next phase will focus on filing formal cases, apprehending individuals behind the networks, and uncovering how the stolen data was originally obtained and distributed.

Interestingly, investigators also discovered that several operators claiming to sell sensitive information were running fraudulent schemes, charging customers but supplying false or worthless data.

Authorities emphasized that the operation’s primary goal is to dismantle criminal groups exploiting citizens’ personal data for profit, with more arrests anticipated in the coming days.