Pakistan has uncovered a large anti-state social media campaign, officials said Monday. Interior State Minister Talal Chaudhry shared details at a press briefing. He said the anti-state social media campaign used fake accounts. Authorities believe many accounts operated from abroad.
According to the minister, terrorists and organized networks used social media to manipulate opinion. These groups created artificial trends through WhatsApp and online platforms. Moreover, people were paid small amounts per post. As a result, trends appeared popular but were not real.
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Investigations showed many accounts changed names frequently to avoid detection. Officials found links to terrorist content and unrelated global causes. Therefore, the activity appeared commercial, not ideological. Social media platforms later closed several violating accounts.
Talal Chaudhry warned citizens against joining paid trends knowingly. He said freedom of expression carries responsibility. However, the government does not want ordinary users prosecuted unnecessarily. Still, legal action remains possible in serious cases.
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The minister also accused PTI-linked accounts of running the anti-state social media campaign. He claimed foreign funding supported these efforts. Pakistan will work with global partners to stop such activities. The government says national security will not be compromised.