LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has apprehended Bilal Malik, accused of creating and sharing manipulated images of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, as part of a social media smear campaign.
Bilal Malik was arrested by the FIA after he was found guilty of creating and circulating manipulated images of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and at the same time, conducting a smear campaign across social media, according to an ARY News report.
The FIA Cyber Crime Wing Lahore has confirmed Malik’s arrest for targeting not only Maryam Nawaz but also for a slanderous campaign against the president of the UAE. The edited images falsely depict Maryam Nawaz alongside the UAE president, which has circulated widely on social media.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has requested an FIA investigation into the incident. However, FIA reiterated that the institute would expose any individual who has uploaded or disseminated edited content. Investigations are being carried out in various cities, including Lahore, with warnings to the offenders facing severe legal action.
A new threat that surfaces these days is the deepfake that utilises artificial intelligence (AI) to present a realistic depiction of the individual but is somehow a sorry imitation or utter falsehood. However, these impersonated images and videos are supposedly effective in defamation, presenting personal and political lies, and threatening human privacy and reputation significantly.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari related her close encounter with a deepfake video used against her, reiterating the need to prioritise this issue. “It was devastating,” said Bokhari to AFP. “My daughter came and put her arms around me and said: ‘Mama, you have to fight it out.'”
Bokhari has called for awareness and systemic reforms, asking the judiciary and police to modernise their practices to work against the misuse of technology. Deepfake videos, she noted, are often used to discredit women in Pakistan, adding yet another complicating factor in the fight against existing inequalities.
Read More: Sindh Assembly sets new record with shortest session
