Benazir Shah targeted in deepfake, Information Minister vows action
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar
Journalist Benazir Shah has been targeted in a deepfake video circulated by an X account, followed by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. Shah condemned the incident on X, saying such attacks would not silence her.
Responding promptly, Minister Tarar called the act “totally unacceptable and highly condemnable” and said action would be taken. He added that nobody has the right to create fake videos to harass or defame journalists and clarified that he does not condone the behaviour of the account in question.
PECA, enacted in 2016, is intended to combat cybercrime, online harassment, and the spread of illegal digital content. However, critics say the law has often been misused to target journalists, activists, and political opponents, raising concerns about freedom of expression and digital rights in Pakistan.
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I appreciate the information minister taking this matter seriously.
However, I do not wish to pursue a PECA case through the NCCIA, as doing so would lend legitimacy to a law and an institution that have been used to harass journalists, silence private citizens, and suppress… https://t.co/aDJ6FvG5kNShah welcomed the minister’s response but made it clear she would not pursue a case under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) through the National Counter Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). She argued that using the law and the agency would lend legitimacy to an institution that has often been used to harass journalists, silence citizens, and suppress dissent.
She urged the government to scrap PECA and NCCIA and start a genuine consultation process to draft legislation that addresses the safety of journalists. Shah reiterated her resilience, saying #AttacksWontSilenceUs.