The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cybercrime Wing in Balochistan says it has identified 924 “anti-state” social media accounts in a crackdown against online platforms.
According to the FIA, over the past three months, a team led by Director Imran Mahmood has Identified accounts allegedly involved in anti-state activities. These include 487 Facebook accounts, 190 TikTok accounts, 147 X accounts, 88 Instagram accounts, and 12 accounts on other platforms.
The FIA Cybercrime Wing said the details of these accounts have been shared with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which has already blocked 312 accounts. Investigations are ongoing into 14 cases linked to individuals accused of using social media for anti-state purposes.
The FIA Cybercrime Wing said it has deployed advanced technology to monitor and analyze online activity. A dedicated team is tasked with tracking suspicious behavior across platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and X. The agency also claims to have identified 28 social media applications allegedly used by individuals to spread propaganda and communicate anonymously.
Director Imran Mahmood said the crackdown is part of efforts to combat anti-state elements. “All available resources are being deployed to apprehend the culprits,” he said, adding that no leniency would be shown to those undermining national security.
However, human rights activists and social media users in Balochistan have raised concerns about the crackdown. They argue that the region is already under a near-total media blackout, and social media platforms are often the only way to highlight alleged state repression. Activists claim that individuals using social media to report on human rights abuses face increasing restrictions, arrests, and enforced disappearances by state authorities.
Critics argue that the crackdown further restricts freedom of expression in a region where traditional media already operates under severe constraints.