Report shows increase in online abuse cases involving minors in Pakistan

LAHORE: A report has said that online abuse cases involving minors rose sharply across Pakistan in 2025, alongside continued growth in cyber harassment complaints and persistent barriers to access to justice.

In a report, the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) said that its helpline received 3,012 new complaints during the year, along with 776 follow-ups, including 2,586 cases of cyber harassment. Since its launch in 2016, the service has handled 23,032 cases.

Cases involving minors rose 28 per cent to 159 in 2025, following a 51 per cent increase a year earlier, the report said. It highlighted risks faced by younger children, including online grooming and exploitation, though they accounted for a small share of overall complaints.

Adults aged 18 to 30 made up 51.3 per cent of complainants. Women reported 1,709 cases, compared with 1,279 reported by men, and were more frequently affected by non-consensual intimate image abuse, blackmail and sextortion. Men reported higher levels of financial fraud.

Punjab accounted for 69.5 per cent of reported cases, while lower reporting in regions such as Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan pointed to gaps in access and awareness, the report said.

The helpline also recorded a 20 per cent rise in international complaints, receiving 75 cases from 30 countries.

The DRF said generative artificial intelligence was emerging as a growing risk, particularly for women and children.

“We are entering a phase where AI is scaling harm at speed,” said DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad.

According to the report, messaging and social media platforms remained central to abuse, with WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram accounting for 53 per cent of cases. WhatsApp alone made up 34 per cent, highlighting risks linked to encrypted communication and features that limit evidence collection.

Despite 79 per cent of cyber harassment cases being referred to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, access to justice remained limited, the DRF said, noting that only about half of complaints originated from cities with operational cybercrime offices.

The organisation said it expanded legal support in 2025, assisting 143 cases and supporting dozens of survivors through court and administrative processes.

DRF called for stronger law enforcement capacity, improved protections for minors, and enhanced regulation and moderation by technology platforms.