Exploring the Contested Nature of Cyber Crimes and Identity Theft: The Case of Balancing Security and Privacy in Pakistan’s Cyber Laws

Abstract

There is no denying the fact that human beings have become too dependent on technology. Based on a study conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, around 30 percent of the world’s population has access to the internet and currently 70% of the world population has mobile and broadband subscriptions. The downside of the increase in the number of connecting devices and sophistication in information technology is an increase in the number of computer-mediated problems. Cyberspace is a term used to describe the virtual ‘geography’ of the internet. Computer technology and networking innovations have undoubtedly given rise to what some have described as a ‘borderless’ and network society which enables instantaneous communication between private individuals, governmental authorities and businesses. That is to say, the usual boundaries of communication do not apply to the “cyberspace,” as the internet does not occupy any physical space. Transactions can be initiated in one country, processed in another, and concluded in yet another. Consequently, actions and processes that are conducted in the cyberspace will often not fall under the legal control and jurisdiction of a single state. This article examines these computer-related challenges.