As an active social media influencer in Pakistan, I frequently receive messages and tips from people across various professions. Lately, however, I’ve been getting suspicious DMs claiming to offer “leaked videos” that I could share.
At first, I dismissed them as scams, worried that clicking any links might hack my account, so I blocked the sender. But soon after, another message appeared, this time with screenshots of women’s videos in compromising situations.
The sender simply offered to give me all the videos, no strings attached. This left me puzzled: Why would someone send me content like this? Are they trying to make money from it, or is it just about chasing views and engagement that could translate to revenue, similar to how creators earn on YouTube or TikTok?
A disturbing underground trade in secretly recorded footage of women and girls is flourishing in Pakistan, fueled by the popularity of platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and anonymous messaging apps such as Telegram.
Similar to a practice exposed in China by The New York Times where “toupai chumai,” or “secret filming betrayal,” sees intimate videos of girlfriends, wives, relatives, and acquaintances traded in hidden Telegram groups.
In an investigation by The New York Times, reporters verified more than 30 active Chinese-language Telegram groups where users regularly posted and exchanged non-consensual footage captured by hidden cameras, often sold via online payment apps.
Pakistan is witnessing a parallel surge in privacy violations, blackmail, and monetized exploitation.
In Pakistan, the issue has taken on a distinctly social media-driven form, amplified by the country’s massive young online population of over 117 million internet users and the viral nature of short-video platforms.
Influencers and content creators secretly film women in public spaces, often under the pretext of “dating advice” or “pickup” content, then post edited clips that garner millions of views while exposing victims to online abuse.
High-profile cases involving female TikTokers have dominated headlines in recent times, with leaked private videos spreading rapidly across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram.
Recent viral trends in early 2026, such as searches for “7:11 Umairy video leaks” or similar alleged clips tied to Pakistani figures, have revived memories of past scandals.
https://archive.mmnews.tv/what-is-the-7-minute-11-second-viral-video/
These often prove to be hoaxes, deepfakes, or AI-manipulated content designed to drive clicks, but they highlight a broader pattern where curiosity fuels the spread of real and fabricated material. Victims, including influencers like Alina Amir, have publicly denied involvement in circulating clips, attributing them to deepfake harassment campaigns aimed at defamation and extortion.
https://archive.mmnews.tv/umairy-leaks-who-leaked-the-viral-explicit-video/
Beyond celebrity leaks, everyday women face invasive recording in vulnerable settings. Reports have emerged of CCTV footage from private hospitals, including sensitive moments like childbirth and medical examinations, being sold on Telegram channels for as little as Rs1,500 (about $5 USD).
https://archive.mmnews.tv/all-celebs-that-became-victims-of-video-leaks-in-2024/
Hidden cameras in girls’ hostels, beauty parlors, gyms, and public markets capture footage that is then traded or monetized.
In one alarming trend, men film women covertly at night or in public, framing content as “walking tours” or entertainment, then profit across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and other channels, often leaving victims mentally distressed when their images surface without consent.
Telegram serves as a key hub for these activities, hosting channels where explicit or invasive videos are bartered, sold, or shared in exchange for money via easy digital payments. Some groups reportedly categorize content, including material involving minors or non-consensual recordings, turning privacy breaches into a grim business model.
Enforcement remains inconsistent. Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) criminalizes non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has pursued cases involving blackmail and cyber harassment.
https://archive.mmnews.tv/from-umairi-to-alina-amir-leaks-cybersecurity-in-pakistan-under-question/
Courts have occasionally ordered platform restrictions or summoned influencers, yet the sheer volume of content and cross-border nature of apps like Telegram complicate crackdowns.
Patriarchal attitudes and limited digital literacy exacerbate the harm, with women facing threats, violence, and social ostracism when footage leaks.
Activists and cybersecurity experts call for urgent reforms, stricter platform moderation, mandatory consent verification for sensitive content, enhanced cybercrime policing, and nationwide awareness campaigns on digital privacy.
As Pakistan’s social media ecosystem continues to explode, the line between viral entertainment and exploitation grows dangerously thin, demanding swift action to protect women’s dignity in the digital age.
This emerging crisis underscores a global challenge: technology that empowers expression can also enable betrayal, and without robust safeguards, vulnerable individuals pay the heaviest price.
