FIA clampdown on software piracy, porn on cards

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Imran Asghar

RAWALPINDI: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is set to crack down on the sale of pirated software and porno CDs in the capital and adjoining garrison city, it’s learnt. Sources said the FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing with the help of National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes (NR3C) had uncovered dealers of pirated software and pornographic CDs through a survey of the twin city market. They said there existed a network of the developers of pirated software and porno CDs of children. He said most of these people were well educated and had good proficiency at computers, and used modern technology for piracy. They said the illegal activity being carried out in Internet café and rented houses caused the national kitty huge losses. According to them, a licensed software sells in the international market between Rs 25,000 and Rs 75,000 but its pirated version is sold on the local market for Rs 30 to Rs 100. The sources said some IT pirates misused credit cards to purchase licensed software online. They said besides software, pirates also made illegal copies of popular movies and games, especially 3D ones, and books. They said the FIA bosses had given the Cyber Crime Wing the task of tracing software pirates and dealers of their products in the twin cities. The sources said the FIA had decided to crack down on pirates after receiving over 25 complaints against them. They said the FIA would also get in contact with local and foreign IT firms to procure modern system to recognise software’s originality. The sources said the wing would proceed against the operators of Internet cafés promoting pornography, and may request the Interior Ministry to block porno websites.

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