Expert Stress Need for Global Cooperation and Regulation Regarding Cyber Threats
On May 12, experts at a seminar titled “Global Challenges of Cybercrime” held at the Sindh University’s Pakistan Study Centre underscored the pressing need for unified international laws to combat the escalating threat of cybercrimes in the digital age.
Speakers, including Sindh University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohammad Siddique Kalhoro and former FIA Director General Dr. Sanaullah Abbasi, emphasized that while social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Instagram offer valuable avenues for expression, they also pose significant challenges in terms of hate speech, privacy violations, and cyberattacks.
Dr. Kalhoro highlighted the transformative impact of the internet and the rise of artificial intelligence, underlining the importance of academic programs in these fields. He stressed the critical need for international legal frameworks to address the global nature of cybercrime.
Dr. Abbasi reiterated the importance of safeguarding individuals’ rights online, particularly privacy and dignity, while upholding freedom of expression. He called for enhanced international cooperation among law enforcement agencies to effectively counter cyber threats and ensure access to crucial data from social media platforms for investigations.
Discussing the newly established National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Dr. Abbasi underscored the necessity for adequate resources and personnel to effectively tackle cybercrime. He highlighted the challenges faced by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) due to staff shortages and expressed optimism that the new agency, headed by a grade 21 officer, would be better equipped to address cyber threats.
Dr. Abbasi also touched upon the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency regulation, noting its criminalization in Pakistan due to concerns about illicit financial flows. He contrasted this with the legal status of cryptocurrencies in Europe and discussed the bans imposed by China and Russia.
Furthermore, he emphasized the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, aligning with recent UN resolutions advocating for the use of AI solely for human benefit. He illustrated the potential of AI in healthcare by citing a case where AI detected breast cancer in a patient who had been previously cleared by doctors.
The seminar shed light on the complex challenges posed by the evolving landscape of cybercrime, the potential of emerging technologies like AI, and the urgent need for global collaboration and robust legal frameworks to protect individuals and society in the digital realm.
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