"ISI Attributes Audio Leaks of Judges and Politicians to Commonplace Hackers"

The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has communicated to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that recent audio leaks involving politicians, judges, and their relatives may be the work of 'ordinary individuals or hackers.' In a written response conveyed through the Ministry of Defence, the ISI disclosed a startling revelation about the accessibility of inexpensive tools capable of recording audio from smartphones.

The country's premier intelligence agency, in its submitted report, also illuminated the existence of groups offering paid services to discreetly acquire data from devices using various methods. The report further highlighted that "callers can also record each other's conversations/calls on speaker, and afterward, it may be leaked or hacked."

The spy agency informed the court about the existence of artificial intelligence tools capable of altering the voice and content of any conversation, emphasizing their potential to mimic someone.

ISI additionally stated its limitations in tracing the source of the leaks, citing encryption as a significant obstacle. It conveyed that due to encrypted traffic, it is technically impossible to ascertain the source, with only social media platforms having the potential to provide relevant information.

Furthermore, ISI recommended that the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) cybercrimes wing should take further action. It underscored Section 35 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), which empowers authorities to access or demand information in a readable and comprehensive format from service providers.