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Pakistan Minister Condemns Deepfake Targeting Journalist Benazir Shah

Citing misuse of Pakistan’s cybercrime law, Shah declines to file a case, pressing for repeal plus a consultative framework to protect reporters.

Overview

  • An AI-generated video falsely depicting Benazir Shah was posted on X by the account PakVocals, which she denounced while vowing not to be silenced.
  • Information Minister Attaullah Tarar called the video totally unacceptable and pledged action, noting he follows many accounts on X and does not endorse the one involved.
  • Shah said she would not pursue a case under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act through the NCCIA, arguing these tools have been used to harass journalists and citizens.
  • She urged the government to scrap PECA and the NCCIA and to launch genuine consultations to draft protections tailored to journalists’ safety.
  • Journalists including Zahid Gishkori, Asad Ali Toor, and Meher Bokhari condemned the deepfake and urged investigation and platform accountability, with no public outcome of any probe reported yet.