National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency

National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is a specialized agency established by the Government of Pakistan on 3 May 2024. The agency replaced Cybercrime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and was created to “counter propaganda and rumours on social media”.

History

In December 2023, Umar Saif, then Caretaker Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications, announced plans to create the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) with the intention to replace the Cybercrime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

On 3 May 2024, Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Information also announced the government's plan on establishing an agency "to safeguard the digital rights of people and counter propaganda and rumours on social media." The same day, the NCCIA was formally established under Section 51 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA), leading to the cessation of the Cybercrime Wing of the FIA.

Reception

Following the establishment of NCCIA, DAWN in its editorial questioned the creation of NCCIA and expressed concerns about the potential ramifications. DAWN's editorial highlighted worries that NCCIA, tasked with handling offenses under the PECA Ordinance, might intensify surveillance and data collection practices, potentially infringing on citizens' personal liberties under the pretext of security. The editorial also feared that NCCIA's objective could be to tighten control over social media and empower crackdowns on activists, dissidents, and journalists critical of state policies.