The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established a direct and official communication channel with Meta Asia Pacific (APAC) to accelerate investigations into organised cybercrime, online fraud, and hate speech in Pakistan. The new arrangement is expected to significantly reduce the time required for processing lawful data requests involving Meta platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, while improving coordination between the two organisations.
Under the agreement, Meta has formally recognised FIA’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC), which operates from the National Command and Control Centre (NC3), as the official channel for secure and lawful communication. This recognition enables FIA to directly coordinate with Meta APAC when requesting information related to investigations involving the company’s platforms. Previously, the agency was required to submit such requests through Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) or Interpol channels, a process that officials said could take several months before receiving a response. With the introduction of the dedicated communication channel, response times are expected to be reduced from months to only a few days. FIA stated that all lawful requests concerning Meta services will now be processed exclusively through the designated SPOC at NC3, creating a more streamlined and efficient process for handling digital investigations.
The new mechanism will support a wide range of lawful investigative requests, including preservation requests, basic subscriber information, account registration details, login IP history, content removal requests, and emergency disclosure requests. FIA outlined a structured procedure for processing these requests to ensure compliance with legal requirements and maintain accountability throughout the process. According to the agency, the Investigating Officer will first prepare the case file by compiling all required legal documents along with the relevant Meta account identifiers. Once the documentation has been reviewed and approved by the Circle In charge, the request will be forwarded to FIA’s official SPOC at NC3. The designated officer will then submit the request directly to Meta APAC through the newly established communication channel. FIA officials explained that centralising all requests through a single authorised point will improve oversight, strengthen audit trails, and eliminate delays caused by multiple communication routes.
Officials believe the partnership will strengthen Pakistan’s ability to investigate digital crimes that require timely cooperation with global technology companies. By establishing a dedicated communication pathway, FIA expects investigators to receive critical information much faster, particularly in cases where rapid action is necessary to preserve digital evidence or respond to ongoing criminal activity. The agency also noted that the structured workflow will help maintain transparency and ensure that all requests are processed through a secure and accountable system while meeting applicable legal standards.
FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwar said the newly established communication channel would significantly enhance the agency’s ability to respond to time sensitive investigations involving child exploitation and other serious cyber related offences. He added that the direct coordination mechanism with Meta APAC will improve the efficiency of digital investigations by enabling faster access to lawful information when required. The initiative reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation between law enforcement authorities and major technology companies to address cybercrime more effectively while ensuring that requests for user information continue to follow established legal procedures and oversight mechanisms.
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