Authorities issue safety advisory for influencers after Sana Yousuf’s murder

(Web Desk): The National Cyber Emergency Response Team has issued an advisory for digital content creators and social media influencers in the wake of the murder of influencer Sana Yousuf.

According to the report, an advisory has been issued for digital content creators — including TikTokers, vloggers, influencers, and bloggers — urging them to avoid revealing their location during live streams, adding strangers on social media, and attending suspicious invitations or meetups.

The advisory from the National Cyber Emergency Response Team advises TikTokers, vloggers, influencers, and bloggers to stay vigilant. It warns against disclosing live streaming locations, befriending everyone on social media, or meeting people in person simply based on invitations for work or collaboration. It also emphasizes staying cautious in real life.

According to the advisory, creators should maintain a secure, positive, and responsible digital presence, and follow the CERT guidelines to ensure personal and digital safety. It also warns that their identity and opinions can expose them to risks both online and offline.

Digital creators are advised to immediately refute any fake audio or video made using deepfake technology, enable multi-factor authentication and strong passwords on their social media accounts, update their privacy settings, and avoid clicking on suspicious links.

The National Cyber Emergency Response Team further stated that influencers should avoid revealing their real-time location in live streams or posts, refrain from befriending everyone on social media, regularly monitor comments and messages on their platforms, and promptly block and report inappropriate or offensive comments to the respective platforms.

It is worth noting that on June 2, a 17-year-old influencer and TikToker, Sana Yousuf, was shot and killed inside her residence by a 22-year-old TikToker, Umar Hayat alias "Kaka", after she refused his friendship request.

Police arrested the accused within 20 hours and presented him in court. The Islamabad District and Sessions Court sent the accused to jail on a 14-day judicial remand for identification parade in connection with the murder of TikToker Sana Yousuf.