Surf Safe: NACTA launches complaint portal to counter online extremism (VIDEO)

ISLAMABAD - The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has rolled out an online reporting portal aimed at countering online extremism as well as abuse of internet and social media.

"Surf safe" is an online portal which allows Pakistanis to report extremist content online freely, securely and anonymously.

The web portal also serves as “eyes and ears” in the cyber sphere to counter radical and extremist ideology in the online realm.



According to the implementation status (NACTA Review - December 2017) of National Action Plan (NAP), the mission of “surf safer” is to counter online extremism, map and eliminate extremist content, help victims of extremism by regaining space for values of moderation, love and fraternity in the cyber sphere through community participation and ultimately make the internet a safer place for everyone.

In order to filter social media websites and enable vigilance against cyber-crimes, the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act-2016 has already been passed by Parliament and constant vigilance of internet traffic has resulted in blocking of 1,447 URLs which hosted extremist content.

NACTA and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) are continuously coordinating on this issue.

The review further revealed that a mobile application - CHAUKAS - has been developed and is available at Google Play Store and Apple Store.

NACTA's Android-iOS (CHAUKAS) App
Available on the respective Play-stores (Google & Apple). CHAUKAS app enables the citizens to report anonymously and securely about extremist content, speeches, banners, activities wherever they notice it-in their areas and also on the internet. pic.twitter.com/j5A2MBc3h6

— NACTA (@NACTAPK) March 25, 2018

NACTA’s Android and iOS applications are user-friendly systems which enable a common citizen to report any incidence of hate speech or extremist content in the form of video, audio, photo and URL/text visible to them on the cyber sphere.

Initially set up in 2009, administratively, the National Counter Terrorism Authority got its powers and mandate clearly spelled out in March 2013, under an Act of Parliament. The NACTA 2013 Act sets up the framework of the organisation.