Latest news with #Chaudhry
Gulf Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Pakistan urges global social media platforms to block accounts run by banned militant groups
Gulf Today Report / AP Pakistan urged global social media companies to take action to block hundreds of accounts allegedly run by outlawed militant groups that Islamabad claims spread propaganda and glorify insurgents in the South Asian country. According to Pakistan's Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry, groups such as the Pakistani Taliban and the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army — banned by the Pakistani authorities and also designated as terrorist groups by the United States — have been using X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram to promote violence in Pakistan. Chaudhry, who spoke to reporters at a news conference, urged the tech companies to remove or disable these accounts, as well as those run by supporters of the militant groups. Chaudhry said the identified accounts were being operated under anonymous names and unverified IDs. He noted that all the accounts belonged to terrorist groups and said that Pakistan was unaware of their exact origins. The government, he said, was seeking information from platform operators to help dismantle these online networks, adding that Pakistan remained a wall between terrorism and the world. Chaudhry further stated that many proscribed organisations under the UN, US, UK, and Pakistani sanctions were freely using these platforms. Referring to the National Action Plan, he said one of its core points was to act against individuals or entities spreading terrorist propaganda via media and social media. He noted that hardcore terrorist groups were operating online under the guise of free speech and urged the complete blocking and removal of their accounts. He outlined three specific demands to social media platforms: first, to block and remove these accounts; second, to implement AI-based measures to prevent the rapid creation of mirror accounts, which often reappear minutes after being removed; and third, to share account holder information, noting that such individuals were effectively part and parcel of terrorist activity. He called for cooperation from all social media operators on these fronts. Addressing the presser, Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik echoed these concerns, stating that many of the groups involved were not only banned in Pakistan but also designated as terrorist organisations by the United Nations. He said these groups posed a threat not only to Pakistan but also to global peace and stability. Malik stressed that Pakistan had suffered immensely due to terrorism —not only through loss of life, but also economic and social costs. He said the country had been at the forefront of the global war on terror for over two decades, enduring the loss of more than 90,000 lives. He added that this ongoing threat had now taken root across a wide range of platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram. It was important, he said, to explicitly name these applications, given their central role in terrorist communication and propaganda. He added that Pakistan would welcome the establishment of social media company offices within the country to improve coordination and enforcement. The ministers noted that terrorist organisations had increasingly turned to encrypted messaging services for communication and recruitment. They urged tech firms to implement robust systems for identifying, disabling, and reporting such accounts in line with global counterterrorism efforts. Malik added that Pakistan was continuing to track additional accounts linked to terror outfits and stressed the need for platforms to assist by blocking and reporting all such activity. There was no immediate response from any of the social media platforms to Pakistan's request. The plea comes amid a surge in violence across Pakistan, much of it blamed on the two militant groups, as well as Daesh group. The Pakistani Taliban are allies but a separate militant group from the Afghan Taliban. However, the Taliban takeover of neighboring Afghanistan in 2021 has emboldened the TTP. Militant groups also heavily rely on social media platforms to claim responsibility for attacks against security forces and civilians in Pakistan.
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Pakistan urges global social media platforms to block accounts run by banned militant groups
FILE PHOTO: Taliban fighters patrol near the closed Torkham border with Pakistan in March, 2025. - AP ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday (July 25) urged global social media companies to take action to block hundreds of accounts allegedly run by outlawed militant groups that Islamabad claims spread propaganda and glorify insurgents in the South Asian country. According to Pakistan's Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry, groups such as the Pakistani Taliban and the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army - banned by the Pakistani authorities and also designated as terrorist groups by the United States - have been using X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram to promote violence in Pakistan. Chaudhry, who spoke to reporters at a news conference, urged the tech companies to remove or disable these accounts, as well as those run by supporters of the militant groups. Deputy Law Minister Aqeel Malik, who also spoke at the new conference, said Pakistani investigators have identified 481 accounts associated with the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, and the Balochistan Liberation Army, or BLA. The accounts were being used to incite violence and spread hate speech, Malik said. There was no immediate response from any of the social media platforms to Pakistan's request. Pakistan itself has in recent years blocked access to X, primarily to curb criticism from supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan but also voices of other dissenters. The plea comes amid a surge in violence across Pakistan, much of it blamed on the two militant groups, as well as the Islamic State group. The Pakistani Taliban are allies but a separate militant group from the Afghan Taliban. However, the Taliban takeover of neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021 has emboldened the TTP. Militant groups also heavily rely on social media platforms to claim responsibility for attacks against security forces and civilians in Pakistan. - AP
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Pakistan urges social media platforms to block banned militant accounts
Pakistan on Friday urged global social media companies to take action to block hundreds of accounts allegedly run by outlawed militant groups that Islamabad claims spread propaganda and glorify insurgents in the South Asian country. According to Pakistan's Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry, groups such as the Pakistani Taliban and the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army banned by the Pakistani authorities and also designated as terrorist groups by the United States have been using X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram to promote violence in Pakistan. Chaudhry, who spoke to reporters at a news conference, urged the tech companies to remove or disable these accounts, as well as those run by supporters of the militant groups. Deputy Law Minister Aqeel Malik, who also spoke at the news conference, said Pakistani investigators have identified 481 accounts associated with the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, and the Balochistan Liberation Army, or BLA. The accounts were being used to incite violence and spread hate speech, Malik said. There was no immediate response from any of the social media platforms to Pakistan's request. Pakistan itself has in recent years blocked access to X, primarily to curb criticism from supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan but also voices of other dissenters. The plea comes amid a surge in violence across Pakistan, much of it blamed on the two militant groups, as well as the Islamic State group. The Pakistani Taliban are allies but a separate militant group from the Afghan Taliban. However, the Taliban takeover of neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021 has emboldened the TTP. Militant groups also heavily rely on social media platforms to claim responsibility for attacks against security forces and civilians in Pakistan. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Tackling digital terrorism: Social media companies asked to share data
ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Friday said that Pakistan has identified over 481 social media accounts operated by terrorist organisations under anonymous names, and called on global tech firms to cooperate in blocking these accounts. 'These accounts are linked to jet black terrorist organisations and not associated with any political party or parties' workers', he said while addressing the press conference along with Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik. 'These accounts are being run anonymously and using unverified identities. We are not opposing freedom of speech, but we must draw a line when it comes to terrorism and violent extremism,' he stated. PTA, Meta collaborate on digital counterterrorism workshop Chaudhry emphasised that these organisations are sanctioned by the United Nations, United States, United Kingdom, and Pakistan. Referring to the National Action Plan (NAP), he said that preventing the spread of terrorist propaganda through media, including social media, remains a top priority. While Pakistani authorities have successfully traced these accounts, Chaudhry said that action has been hindered by a lack of user data and the frequent re-emergence of 'mirror accounts' – duplicates that appear after one is taken down. He urged global social media platforms to not only block such accounts but also to implement AI-based systems capable of detecting and preventing the creation of mirror accounts. Additionally, he called for information sharing and transparency from tech companies to identify the individuals behind these networks. 'We often don't even know from where these accounts are being operated,' he added. He noted that hardcore terrorist groups were operating online under the guise of free speech and urged the complete blocking and removal of their accounts. As many as 2,417 complaints regarding terror-related content are currently under review, he said. Barrister Aqeel Malik echoed the concerns, stating that many of the banned organisations pose a threat not only to Pakistan but to global peace and stability. He reiterated that Pakistan has suffered deeply from terrorism, losing over 90,000 lives and bearing significant economic and social costs over the past two decades. 'The threat has evolved and spread across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram,' Malik said, highlighting the need for stronger regulation and cooperation with social media companies. He added that Pakistan would welcome the establishment of local offices of global tech firms to enhance enforcement and coordination on security issues. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Govt urges crackdown on 'digital terrorism'
The government on Friday urged the social media companies to immediately remove terrorist contents from their platforms using artificial intelligence (AI), stressing global cooperation against digital terrorism, including data sharing. Addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad with Minister of State for Law Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry emphasised that the removal of terrorist contents from social media did not intended to silence freedom of expression, but to build a wall against the menace. "I want to request social media operators and platforms to cooperate with us on the blockade and removal of accounts, taking measures to stop mirror accounts and to share information of account holders who are operating these accounts," Chaudhry said. Earlier this week, Chaudhry had highlighted how a terrorist group was using WhatsApp channels to "disseminate hateful content and harmful narratives". He told the joint presser that 2,417 complaints related to terrorism on social media were under consideration by the relevant authorities. "Pakistan is a bulwark against terrorism. We have detected hundreds of social media accounts linked to terrorism. Outfits like TTP, IS-K, BLA and BLF are spreading propaganda and recruiting youth through the social media," he said. On the occasion, Barrister Aqeel said that terrorism and propaganda were punishable offenses under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). "Pakistan has demanded closure of terrorist accounts, automatic blocking, and access to data from social media platforms," he said.
