In the recent past; terror organizations relied on pamphlets, posters, newspapers and magazines as their primary mediums to disseminate their propaganda. However, with the modernisation of information technologies and the popularity of social/ digital media, these groups transformed their modus operandi. By leveraging technological advancement, they now employ these tools for psychological warfare, narrative and ideology amplification, fundraising, recruitment and justification of their acts of violence. Social media platforms, websites, and communication apps enabled them to wield significant influence over their targeted audiences while maintaining intricate and covert networks.
Several reasons including its affordability, easy access, anonymity and multimedia environment, make social media platforms the ideal media of communication for terrorist groups. They also developed sophisticated tools and creative techniques for message encryption and secure communication. Reports suggest that some terrorists were found using techniques such as steganography for encrypting their messages in graphic files and dead-dropping for transmitting information through saved email.
Along with propaganda purposes, terrorists also use these digital media platforms for fundraising and recruitment as well. Online fundraising became so common that terrorist organisations were found using the most popular online payment service, PayPal. They also use these platforms to hunt potential recruits and sympathisers.
Presence of terrorist and extremist elements can be found on almost all mainstream social media platforms including X and Facebook; but Telegram, a Russian cloud-based social media and instant messaging (IM) service, happens to be the “app of choice” of terror groups. For millions of people, Telegram will be familiar as a social media and messaging app, but beneath the surface, it is being operated as a dark web due to its secure and untraceable environment. Several terrorist organisations including ISIS, Al-Qaida and FaK are rigorously using Telegram for the augmentation of their narratives, incitement of violence and day-to-day updates of their activities. Telegram modernization, regulation policies and encrypted spaces also seem valuable tools for extremists like TTP where they can freely communicate.
As a case in hand; the Fitna-Al-Khawarij (FaK), a.k.a Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was found excessively using Telegram for the dissemination of its online content. It is hard to ascertain the authentic number of FaK-related Telegram channels, however, more than a dozen channels with hundreds of subscribers and followers were found propagating their content on the platform. One particular channel called Banyan Marsoos Urdu/ (بنیان مرصوص (اردو shares regular updates regarding attacks and activities of the group against security forces. The channel, being managed through a Bot, shares FaK’s press releases, infographics and Videos of their attacks along with the text regarding the incidents in the form of short news stories. In its description, the channel proclaimed to be a publication organisation for Jihad in Pakistan, Ghazwa-e-Hind and a great centre for the ideological and intellectual upbringing of youth.
Recently; the channel shared updates regarding the induction of new factions within the umbrella of FaK, their success against Pak Armed Forces in the field and has disseminated magazines and articles written by FaK affiliates, mostly consisting of anti-Army and anti-State rhetoric. The channel frequently urges audiences to subscribe and visit their other affiliated social media links. Along with the above, several other Telegram channels, affiliated with other terrorist outfits including Islamic State and Al-Qaida, were found disseminating similar content.
Although Telegram faces severe criticism from Western governments, digital rights organisations and mainstream media, however, the platform is actively working to deal with the presence of extremist content and terrorist elements. According to The Global Centre for Combating Extremist Ideology (Etidal) report (Oct 2024), the platform removed more than 129 million pieces of extremist content, and 14 thousand and five hundred extremist channels from its platform only during the third quarter of 2024.
Along with Telegram, terrorist outfits also use several other conventional and nonconventional platforms including WhatsApp Channels, Discord, TamTam, Chirpwire, BiP Messenger, Matrix, Enigma Mastodon etc, for content sharing and communication. However, Telegram remains the primary platform for these outfits. Curtailment of extremism and terrorism-related content through the above-mentioned social media platforms mounts significant challenges for governments and security agencies across the globe. Pakistan is also confronting similar challenges substantially affecting country’s overall national security and policies.
The proliferation of extremist ideologies and content certainly results in religious fanatism, extremism and terrorism in Pakistan. To counter and curtail the trend, Pakistan requires a unified and decisive approach on the part of the State. Moderate and enlightened religious scholars be encouraged to counter hate speech and misuse of jihadist ideologies. The government should take initiatives to spread awareness regarding digital terrorism, specifically targeting youth. Social media needs to be regulated and clear guidelines be issued to prevent the dissemination of harmful content online.
Digital platforms provide terror groups with a convenient way to reach out to the target audience for propaganda, fundraising and recruitment purposes over the horizon. As a psychological operation tactic, these groups weaponize graphic content with their attacks on social media to increase their influence manifold. They also target religious-minded youth with sugar-coated misinterpretations of Islamic jihadist content using social media platforms. This phenomenon poses a complex and challenging threat to Pak’s national security that requires a well-thought-out response by the State. This can also be countered through the enhancement of digital and technological capabilities of the State’s security apparatus.
Written By: Salman Ahmad
