The Pakistani Minister of State for Law, Barrister Aqeel Malik, has criticized social media platform X, calling its performance regarding Pakistan “wholly inadequate.” He warned that if the platform fails to cooperate, the Brazil model of regulation could be considered.
Speaking at a press conference with the Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, Malik highlighted that videos concerning the Palestine issue are removed within 24 hours. However, X does not provide access to IP addresses of accounts involved in terrorism. The Minister also suggested that the issue could be taken to an international court if platforms continue to ignore requests.
Minister Chaudhry questioned why social media platforms auto-delete content related to child pornography but fail to act on terrorism content. He stressed that all platforms must comply with Pakistani laws or face government action.
The ministers noted that a warning regarding social media regulation had been issued on 24 July. They explained that modern technology, including AI and algorithms, is being exploited to spread terrorism, while the response from certain applications remains weak.
Chaudhry further revealed that 19 terrorist accounts are being operated from India and 28 from Afghanistan. He criticized X and Facebook for their weak action against accounts linked to terrorism.
Both ministers urged social media platforms to open offices in Pakistan to ensure accountability and compliance with local laws. Chaudhry added that evidence exists of 40 proscribed organizations operating from Afghanistan, emphasizing the importance of stricter monitoring.
In other related news also read Ministers Oppose PTA Tax on Mobile Phones
The ministers’ statements underline Pakistan’s push for stronger social media regulation to curb extremist content, terrorism, and illegal activities online. The government insists that social media companies must cooperate fully or face legal consequences, including international action if necessary.
