KARACHI: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has taken action against three companies in Gulistan-e-Jauhar over alleged involvement in online activities, including the suspected sale of obscene animated content, with investigations into possible child exploitation also under way, ARY News reported.
According to the NCCIA, people arrested during the operation include the companies’ owners and employees. Deputy Director Shahzad Akbar said the agency seized 19 mobile phones from Pixel Craft, a company that had been operating for around two years.
The agency also seized five mobile phones from a company named Art Office. In a separate action, 17 mobile phones were confiscated from an art design company where 17 people were working.
The companies were reportedly providing logo design, banner creation and digital design services to foreign clients. However, investigators are examining allegations that social media accounts were operated using women’s names and fake identities.
The NCCIA has also begun examining the suspects’ digital communications and social media account records as part of the investigation into alleged online activities and the sale of obscene animated content to foreign customers.
The agency said further legal action would be taken in light of the evidence collected and the findings of the investigation.
Earlier, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested 42 people allegedly involved in a case related to child sexual exploitation and pornography, Deputy Director Shahzad Akbar said on Friday.
Addressing a press conference, Shahzad Akbar said the agency had taken action against a network involved in pornography and the creation of fake videos. He said the details of the agency’s operations over the past week were being shared.
The NCCIA deputy director said the agency had recovered 39 hacked accounts in one week and blocked more than 70 accounts involved in anti-state activities.
He said a raid was conducted by the agency’s team last night in a case in which underage children were allegedly targeted for sexual exploitation through the dark web.