Key Points
- Cybersecurity experts say bot networks amplify provocative, agenda-driven content.
- Foreign IP addresses, including from India, appear frequently in the network’s activity.
- Accounts often pose as local activists or journalists to mislead ordinary users.
- Exposing these networks is vital for protecting public opinion and national security.
ISLAMABAD: Investigations into social media posts targeting Pakistan reveal a sophisticated network of accounts spreading misinformation, often under foreign influence.
According to analysts, many accounts run on VPNs and proxy servers that obscure their actual locations; automated bot networks amplify provocative content across platforms.
According to a cybersecurity expert, who wished not to be named, these networks are designed to manipulate narratives, create fake trends, and mislead users. The technical sophistication shows they are run with a clear agenda, often from IP addresses outside Pakistan, including India and other countries.
Social media platform representatives confirm that updates and monitoring tools have helped identify and suspend thousands of suspicious accounts engaged in anti-Pakistan campaigns. Patterns reflect a focus on polarising topics: topics about security, governance, and regional conflicts geared towards inflaming public sentiment and creating distrust.
The scale of the network is alarming: it includes hundreds of accounts working in coordination, using automated scripts to amplify posts and manipulate trending topics.
According to investigators, many accounts pose as local activists, journalists, or ordinary citizens, which makes detection more difficult.
With the increasing challenges that are being posed to Pakistan in the digital information space, exposing these networks is crucial for safeguarding public opinion, social harmony, and national security.
