In the wake of the tragic murder of TikTok influencer Sana Yousaf, the National Cyber Emergency Response Team (NCERT) has issued an advisory for social media creators, including TikTokers, vloggers, and influencers. The advisory warns against revealing location details during live streaming, making indiscriminate friends on social media, and attending suspicious invitations.
The NCERT’s guidelines emphasize the importance of protecting both personal and digital safety. Influencers are advised to avoid sharing their current locations during live streams or posts, and not to engage with every individual online. They should also exercise caution when attending meetings or events in the real world, ensuring they adhere to security protocols.
The advisory further highlights that digital creators should maintain a positive, responsible online presence, follow the National CERT’s safety guidelines, and act swiftly if they encounter fake videos or audio created through deepfake technology. They are also urged to enable multi-factor authentication and strong passwords on social media accounts, while ensuring their privacy settings are up to date.
Influencers are advised to regularly monitor comments and messages on their platforms, immediately block inappropriate content, and report it to relevant authorities.
This advisory comes after the brutal murder of 17-year-old Sana Yousaf, who was shot and killed in her home by 22-year-old Umar Hayat (aka ‘Kaka’) on June 2. The suspect had reportedly wanted to be friends with Yousaf, and after she declined, he took violent action. The police arrested the accused within 20 hours, and he was later presented in court for a judicial remand.
