ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has intensified its efforts to combat online extremism by urging major social media platforms to crack down on terrorist content and open local offices in the country, senior officials announced on Friday.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhary stated, “We are building walls against terrorism, not silencing free speech,” during a press conference outlining the country’s new digital security strategy. He emphasized that Pakistan is a frontline state in the global war against terrorism and has flagged hundreds of accounts on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter).
According to the Ministry of Interior, groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) are actively spreading propaganda and recruiting youth online. A total of 2,417 complaints related to terrorist content are currently under investigation.
Chaudhary called on tech firms to deploy AI tools for faster detection and removal of such material. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik warned that promoting extremist ideologies is punishable under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
The government has also requested data sharing, IP tracking, and improved content filtering, while inviting global platforms to set up offices in Pakistan to strengthen collaboration.
