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The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced on Tuesday that their audits revealed no violations within the licensed telecommunications sector, following recent media reports suggesting subscriber data might be accessible online. A PTA spokesperson explained that the authority does not retain or handle subscriber information; this data is exclusively managed by licensed telecom providers.
The statement was made in response to growing public concern and media coverage about the potential exposure of sensitive personal information of mobile users nationwide. The PTA’s initial investigation indicates that the datasets in question include details like family information, travel logs, vehicle registration data, and copies of CNICs. These datasets appear to be compiled from various external sources, not directly from telecom companies.
In its efforts to combat illegal content, the PTA has already taken action by shutting down 1,372 websites, applications, and social media pages involved in unlawful sale or sharing of personal data. Furthermore, the Interior Ministry has established a special inquiry team to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Last Sunday, the Interior Minister responded to the reports of a SIM card data breach by ordering a high-level investigation with a two-week deadline for a detailed report. Acting on this directive, the Director General of the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) assembled a dedicated team to scrutinize the breach comprehensively to identify its source, scope, and those responsible for the leak.
The investigation aims to pinpoint the individuals or entities responsible, understand how the breach happened, and initiate legal proceedings against those involved. The NCCIA has committed to presenting their findings and recommendations within 14 days.
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