Pakistan has intensified its online counterterrorism efforts, shutting down hundreds of social media accounts tied to banned militant groups and flagging hundreds more for removal.
According to official figures, the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) have identified more than 850 accounts promoting proscribed organisations such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), and the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF)—all of which are blacklisted by the UN, the US, and the UK.
So far, 533 accounts—collectively followed by over two million people—have been taken offline. The rest remain under review, with further removals expected.
Platforms Show Uneven Cooperation
The accounts in question were active across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, and WhatsApp. Facebook and TikTok responded to over 90% of Pakistan’s takedown requests, while Telegram, despite being banned domestically, fully complied. In contrast, X and WhatsApp acted on only about 30% of the cases.
PTA officials say they have held talks with representatives from these companies to secure more data and speed up enforcement. The government wants a system where terrorist-linked accounts are permanently removed, extremist content is detected proactively through AI, and communication with Pakistani authorities is near-instant.
Why the Focus Is Online
Authorities note that traditional media in Pakistan is largely free from extremist propaganda. However, militant groups have increasingly shifted to social platforms to spread fear, recruit members, and incite violence—making the internet a key battleground in counterterrorism.
The crackdown reflects a broader push to pressure global tech giants into sharing responsibility for curbing the digital reach of terrorist networks.
