The Government of Pakistan has issued a stern warning to social media platform X, cautioning that continued non-cooperation on counterterrorism measures could result in a ban and financial penalties. The announcement was made during a joint press briefing in Islamabad by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik.
Minister Talal Chaudhry emphasized that social media companies operating in Pakistan must comply with national laws or face strict action. He referenced an official notice issued on July 24, 2025, which directed all major platforms to establish offices in Pakistan and raised concerns about the misuse of these services by terrorists. Chaudhry highlighted that extremist groups are increasingly using advanced technology, including AI tools and algorithms, to spread propaganda and recruit followers.
Chaudhry pointed out that several platforms, particularly X and Facebook, have shown weak responses to Pakistan’s requests for action against terrorist accounts. He noted that investigations identified 19 accounts linked to terrorist activity being operated from India and 28 from Afghanistan. The minister urged platforms to implement AI-based systems capable of automatically detecting and removing extremist content and accounts. “If child abuse content can be auto-deleted, then why not terrorist content?” he remarked.
Digital evidence presented by the authorities indicated that 40 banned organizations maintain online operations originating from Afghanistan. Barrister Aqeel Malik accused social media companies of a “double standard,” noting that content related to Palestine is often removed within 24 hours, while requests from Pakistan to take down accounts linked to terrorism face significant delays or inaction.
The government’s warning reflects growing concerns over the role of social media in facilitating extremist activity and signals potential regulatory and punitive measures if companies fail to comply with Pakistan’s counterterrorism and digital security requirements.
