AI-generated fake videos of Pakistani TikToker spread online, triggering death threats
Fake explicit videos of Pakistani TikToker Imsha Rehman spread online in November 2024, allegedly created by hackers. The incident prompted death threats and forced her offline; Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency arrested a suspect named Abdul Aziz in connection with the case.
What happened
In November 2024, explicit videos purporting to show Pakistani TikToker Imsha Rehman were leaked online. Rehman stated the videos were fake and claimed they were created by hackers who accessed her accounts.
A suspect identified as Abdul Aziz from Gujranwala was arrested by Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency in connection with the creation and distribution of the doctored videos.
Reported impact
Rehman reported receiving death threats and said she was unable to attend university due to the scandal. She described the emotional and psychological toll, stating 'I can't go to university. I can't face people. I am getting a lot of death threats.'
Rehman deactivated her social media accounts in November and remained offline for months before breaking her silence in a January 30 interview.
Index analysis
The incident exemplifies how fabricated explicit content can spread rapidly on social media platforms, causing severe reputational and psychological harm to victims. The ease of sharing false information online and the platform's vast reach enabled the content to circulate widely.
Governance controls
Rehman chose to pursue legal action rather than issue a public clarification, working with Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency to identify those responsible for creating and distributing the fake videos.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.