Pakistan approaches social media platforms for record of 161 hate-mongers

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has asked social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, to provide the record of 161 users who are allegedly involved in spreading hate against the state, judiciary and Pakistan army, sources told Hum Investigation Team on Wednesday.

The sources said that the government, through the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), has requested the social media companies to share the details of the 161 users, who are being investigated by a joint investigation team (JIT) in the light of a report by the Cyber Crime Cell of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The sources said that the FIA had also sought the help of the PTA to get the record of 161 Twitter, TikTok, YouTube channels and Facebook users, who are accused of posting or sharing hateful content against the state and its institutions.

The sources said that six YouTube channels have also been asked to be shut down for the same reason.

The sources said that the JIT has obtained the details of 289 Twitter accounts from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), PTA and Passport Office, while the details of 261 accounts have already been requested earlier.

The JIT has also obtained the details of other Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts users from NADRA and other departments, the sources added.

The sources said that the investigating authorities have found that most of these accounts are linked to a political party and its supporters.

The sources said that the accounts are run by political leaders, lawyers, YouTubers, TikTokers and social media activists from within and outside the country.

The sources said that more than one 0.1 million posts against the judiciary and army have been posted or shared on these accounts, and 117 of these accounts are run by users sitting in five different countries.

The sources said that the FIA Cybercrime Wing has also obtained the content posted by 31 YouTubers from the PTA, and some political personalities and a political party’s YouTube channels content has also been obtained.

The sources said that the PTA had earlier referred the details of 550 social media users to the FIA Cybercrime Wing.

The sources said that all the content posted on these accounts will be completed by forensic audit this week, and suspicious users are being summoned as the nature of the content is understood.

The sources said that the FIA legal team is reviewing the posts involved in hate speech.

 The sources said that more than 1 million posts were shared against the army and judiciary in three weeks.