Web desk: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Monday said during a press conference that social media accounts used to generate trends in support of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were also being used by terrorist organisations.
Trends not real but propaganda: Talal Chaudhry
Talal Chaudhry also warned of a coordinated digital campaign against national institutions during the press conference.
Chaudhry said that the terrorist organisations were actively exploiting social media platforms. He further added that “certain elements” were deliberately trying to undermine Pakistan’s national security through organised online activity.
“Money is provided on social media to run all trends, and the information about those who are doing propaganda on social media has been collected,” he warned
He added that the government firmly believes in freedom of expression. However, no compromise would be made on national sovereignty and state institutions.
PTI using social media to spread false narratives
The accounts that create trends for PTI are the same ones that generate trends for the TTP and the BLA. These trends are sold for 50 and 100 rupees. These accounts are operated from abroad, said Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry.
“PTI is systematically running a campaign against the country’s institutions,” he said. Further, said that instructions are given in WhatsApp groups to run propaganda.
“A concerted campaign is being run against national institutions on social media,” Chaudhry said. He further said that PTI was systematically launching propaganda campaigns.
The minister claimed that many PTI-linked social media accounts were being operated from abroad. He also said that the individuals and companies were being paid to create trends and hashtags.
According to Chaudhry, trend-making companies receive payments in dollars, with money allegedly paid per message and per hashtag.
“The same networks creating PTI trends are also responsible for generating trends linked to terror organisations,” he alleged.
He further claimed that millions of rupees were being spent on what he described as anti-Pakistan propaganda.
Further, he said that social media manipulation had become a commercial enterprise with fixed rates for trend creation.
“Trends are created, hashtags are created, and their price is being charged,” said Chaudhry.
Reiterating the government’s stance, Chaudhry said action would be taken strictly within the law. But warned that any effort to destabilise the country or its institutions under the guise of political expression would not be tolerated.
