NACTA develops online portal to report abuse, extremist content

Initiative aims to ultimately make the internet safer place for every one in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has developed an online reporting portal, aimed at countering online extremism, abuse of internet and social media, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.

'Surfsafer' is an online reporting portal for Pakistanis to report extremist online-content freely, securely and anonymously.

Another purpose the web portal will serve is to create eyes and ears in the cyber-sphere which counter radical and extremism ideology on a regular basis.



The implementation status (NACTA Review - December 2017) of the National Action Plan (NAP), on Tuesday, revealed that the mission of the online portal is to counter online extremism, map and eliminate extremist content, help victims of extremism by regaining space for values of moderation, love and fraternity in the cyber-sphere through community participation, and ultimately make the internet a safer place for everyone.

Prevention of Electronic Crime Act-2016 has already been passed by parliament and constant vigilance of internet traffic has resulted in blocking of 1447 URLs which hosted extremist content.

NACTA and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) are continuously coordinating on this issue. Mobile applications to report and monitor content are also being developed and are in their final stages, reports suggest.



The applications are scheduled to be launched on Google Play Store and the Apple Store soon. NACTA's Android and iOS applications are mobile-based user-friendly systems which will enable common citizens to report any incidence of hate speech or extremist content in form of video, audio, photo and URL/text visible to them on cyber-sphere.

The social media and the internet have a significant impact on way of life, enabling access to information and audio-visual media, among other resources, for everyone. However, these modern tools are now used to promote, recruitand train militants besides funds collection and transfers. As such this sector has been given special emphasis in the NAP.