Pakistan cybercrime laws and your rights in online dating.
Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 provides specific legal protections for online harassment, non-consensual image sharing, and cyberstalking. Understanding your rights makes reporting easier and more confident.
PECA 2016: Key sections for dating-related cybercrimes
Section 21: Non-consensual sharing of intimate images
Sharing, transmitting, or publishing intimate images without consent is a criminal offence. Penalty: up to 5 years imprisonment and/or Rs. 5 million fine. This covers: screenshots shared without consent, intimate videos shared as revenge, threats to share such material (sextortion).
Section 20: Online harassment
Sending messages that cause fear, distress, or annoyance is an offence. Penalty: up to 1 year imprisonment and/or Rs. 1 million fine. This covers persistent unwanted messages, threatening communications, and stalking behaviour online.
Section 16: Unauthorised access
Accessing someone's accounts, messages, or devices without permission. This covers hacking into phones or social media accounts.
Section 18: Data damage
Deleting, altering, or interfering with someone else's data without authorisation.
How to report a cybercrime in Pakistan
- FIA Cybercrime Wing: 0800-02345 (toll-free, 24/7)
- Online complaint: complaint.fia.gov.pk
- Walk-in: FIA Cybercrime units exist in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan
- Your local police station can also register an FIR for cybercrime offences
What to bring when reporting
- Screenshots of all relevant conversations
- The platform (app, website, social media) where the crime occurred
- Any account names, profile URLs, or phone numbers involved
- Your CNIC (for identity verification)
- A written account of what happened and when
Report even if you're unsure. FIA will assess whether a crime occurred. You don't need to be certain — that's their job. Your job is to report and let them investigate.
Platform reporting (works alongside FIA reporting)
- Facebook: Report → "Non-consensual intimate images" → Facebook's dedicated team responds within 24 hours
- Instagram: Report post/story → "Nudity or sexual activity" → same Meta team
- WhatsApp: Report contact → "Spam / abuse" → forward problematic messages to WhatsApp's abuse team
- Google: If images appear in search, Google has a removal request for intimate images
Emergency Contacts — Pakistan
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