Islamabad: New allegations have emerged regarding a purported social media propaganda network allegedly linked to India’s intelligence agency RAW, with a self-described facilitator claiming that bots and artificial engagement tools were used to increase the reach of social media accounts under the guise of digital marketing.
Speaking to senior anchor and analyst Waseem Badami, the alleged facilitator said that many individuals and businesses use digital marketing services to improve their online presence by increasing followers, views, likes, and overall engagement.
According to the facilitator, some operators in the digital marketing industry use specialised software, automated bots, and payment systems linked to bank accounts in different countries to deliver these services. Clients provide account details, after which engagement is artificially boosted according to the selected package.
He claimed that service providers generally pay little attention to the nature of the content being promoted, focusing instead on delivering the agreed number of views, likes, and interactions.
The facilitator alleged that in March this year, a client purchased social media promotion packages covering views, likes, and post amplification across multiple platforms. About two weeks later, the same client reportedly placed additional orders, with the total value of the services reaching approximately PKR 3.6 million.
According to his account, it was only after investigators reviewed the promoted content that he discovered some of the posts allegedly contained anti-state and anti-Pakistan narratives.
He further alleged that the content targeted Pakistan’s state institutions, armed forces, and the public, while attempting to portray the country in a negative light. He also claimed that the client purchased significant engagement for posts related to Kashmir and other sensitive issues.
The alleged facilitator said that while virtual private networks (VPNs) can conceal users’ IP addresses, digital devices continue to leave identifiable digital footprints that can assist investigators in tracing online activity.
He added that he has provided the relevant client’s details to the authorities as part of the ongoing investigation.
Experts note that the use of bots, fake followers, and artificially generated engagement has become a growing challenge on social media, as such tactics can create the false impression of widespread public support for coordinated online campaigns.
