A recent cyber patrolling report by law enforcement agencies has revealed a significant rise in the misuse of social media to propagate anti-state narratives and fuel sectarian unrest.
The report, spanning the past 20 days, identified 19 malicious trends aimed at promoting anti-state propaganda and inciting sectarian riots. The majority of the propaganda centered on incidents in Parachinar and issues related to the country’s foreign policy.
Key findings of the report include:
- 6 anonymous trends specifically targeted the country’s foreign policy.
- Several campaigns encouraged civil disobedience and sought to exploit political divides within the nation.
- 13 trends were traced to efforts to incite sectarian riots, with a particular focus on the Parachinar incident.
- Accounts involved in these trends were found to be operated from foreign locations, indicating external involvement.
The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) uncovered a staggering 42,848 websites hosting provocative content. Of these, 11,132 websites were blocked last year by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
Further actions included:
- Tracing 2,197 social media accounts responsible for spreading controversial content.
- Receiving an average of 366 daily reports on social media activities linked to such propaganda.
Authorities have called for enhanced monitoring of social media platforms to curb the misuse of digital spaces and to prevent efforts aimed at destabilizing societal harmony.
