A thirteen-year-old girl in Karachi was rescued by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) from a suspected dark web-linked network that allegedly directed her to poison a cat before ordering her to seriously harm herself, Geo News reported. International intelligence sharing alerted Pakistani authorities to suspicious online activity and provided Internet Protocol addresses linked to the network, according to the report.
Geo News reported that the international agency provided IP addresses being used from 13 countries, including Pakistan. The NCCIA Karachi team investigated the Pakistani IP address and discovered that the associated person was a victim rather than a perpetrator, subsequently leading them to the teenager.
According to NCCIA officials cited by Geo News, the girl's parents were unaware of her involvement until investigators contacted them. The parents noted behavioural changes over the previous six months but had not connected them to her online activities.
Background
Geo News reported that the dark web is a hidden part of the internet inaccessible through conventional search engines like Google or Bing, typically requiring specialised software such as the Tor browser to conceal user identities. While it has legitimate uses for private communication and bypassing censorship, it is also associated with illegal activities including drug trafficking, weapons sales, and cybercrime. It differs from the deep web, which includes private databases and emails not indexed by search engines.
Why it matters
According to Geo News, the case highlights online safety risks for children and the involvement of suspected dark web-linked networks targeting minors in Pakistan. The NCCIA stated they are examining whether other children in the country have been targeted through similar online activities.
What's next
Geo News reported that NCCIA investigators are working to trace the accounts used to contact the girl, establish the identities of those operating the network, and examine whether other children have been targeted. No arrests have been announced as the investigation remains ongoing.