In a recent revelation, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that the recent audio leaks involving politicians, judges, and their families may be the work of ‘ordinary individuals or hackers.’
According to a written response submitted via the Ministry of Defence, ISI shocked the court by disclosing the existence of affordable tools capable of recording audio from smartphones. The country’s top intelligence agency also shed light on groups offering paid services to discreetly obtain data from devices using various methods.
The report highlighted a concerning aspect, stating that “callers can also record each other’s conversations/calls on speaker, and afterward, it may/can be leaked or hacked.”
The spy agency went on to reveal the existence of artificial intelligence tools capable of altering the voice and content of any conversation. “These tools can be used to mimic someone,” the report stated.
However, ISI admitted that tracing the source of the leaks poses a significant challenge due to encryption, stating, “Being encrypted traffic, technically it is not possible to ascertain the source; only SM [social media] platforms can provide information,” as informed to the Islamabad High Court.
As a solution, ISI recommended that the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) cybercrimes wing take further action to address the issue. Additionally, it brought attention to Section 35 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), which grants powers to access or demand information in a readable and comprehensive format from service providers.
The revelation of ordinary hackers being potential culprits behind the audio leaks has sparked concerns about the vulnerability of private conversations and the need for robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive information. The court awaits further actions by the FIA’s cybercrimes wing to address this emerging issue in the digital realm.
