The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has launched an extensive operation against individuals and groups running anti-state campaigns on social media platforms, according to an official statement released by the authority.
In what appears to be one of the largest content moderation actions in recent months, the PTA has blocked more than 13,000 videos on TikTok that allegedly promoted extremist agendas. Additionally, 3,941 TikTok URLs linked to banned organizations have been removed from the platform.
“We have taken down 13,017 videos containing content against security agencies,” a PTA spokesperson confirmed, highlighting the scale of the operation.
The intensified crackdown follows the Jafar Express tragedy, after which the PTA contacted major social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, directing them to implement effective measures against the spread of misinformation.
“The authority has reported anti-state content to these platforms and identified 1,342 URLs involved in propaganda following the Jafar Express attack,” the spokesperson stated.
According to the PTA, social media accounts spreading content related to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have been identified as part of this operation. The authority conducted active monitoring of anti-state content on social media from March 11 to March 28, 2025.
“The process of identifying and blocking such content continues in response to complaints from security agencies,” the spokesperson added. “So far, more than 113,000 anti-state URLs have been blocked.”
The PTA has emphasized its zero-tolerance policy toward terrorist narratives on social media platforms. “We will not allow terrorist narratives to spread on social media, and these platforms will not be permitted to be used against the state,” the spokesperson asserted.
This crackdown comes amid growing concerns about the use of social media for spreading extremist content and misinformation in Pakistan. Digital rights activists have previously raised questions about the balance between security concerns and freedom of expression in such content moderation efforts.
