In the wake of the United States formally designating the BalochistanLiberation Army (BLA) as a terrorist organization, major social mediaplatforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter have begun removingaccounts and pages suspected of having links to the group.
According to reports, Meta-owned platforms WhatsApp and Facebook haveinitiated a crackdown on BLA-related content, permanently suspendingaccounts believed to be used for propaganda, recruitment, and coordinationactivities. Twitter (now known as X) has also confirmed the removal ofseveral profiles allegedly operated by members or supporters of the bannedoutfit.
The U.S. State Department’s designation of the BLA as a Foreign TerroristOrganization (FTO) came amid growing concerns over the group’s involvementin violent attacks within Pakistan. This decision not only imposesfinancial and travel restrictions on the group’s members but also compelsU.S.-based and global technology firms to take measures to curb its onlinepresence.
Cybersecurity experts say the latest enforcement action reflects anincreasing trend of social media companies aligning their policies withcounter-terrorism laws. “Once an organization is declared a terrorist groupby the U.S. or other major jurisdictions, tech companies are under bothlegal and policy obligations to remove their content,” one analyst noted.
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Pakistani authorities have welcomed the move, calling it a positive steptoward disrupting militant propaganda networks online. Officials say thatcurbing the group’s digital reach is crucial to countering its narrativeand preventing recruitment of vulnerable individuals.
The Balochistan Liberation Army has been accused of carrying out numerousdeadly attacks in Pakistan, targeting security forces, infrastructure, andcivilians. The removal of its online accounts is seen as a significant blowto its ability to operate in the digital sphere, though experts warn thatmilitant groups often migrate to encrypted and lesser-known platforms whenbanned from mainstream social media.