Fact Check: Are Platforms Removing Foreign Members From Groups?

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has officially dismissed a widely circulated notification on social media claiming that local group administrators must remove all foreign members from their platforms. The purported document, which featured the PTA logo, suggested the directive was issued due to “current national security concerns and online user data protection,” and warned of legal action against non-compliant group admins.

PTA Confirms Notification is Fake

In a statement released on Tuesday, the PTA clarified that the viral notification is “entirely false” and labeled it as “fake.” The authority stated, “A fake notification circulating on social media, claiming that PTA has instructed social media group administrators to remove foreign members, is entirely false.”

The PTA further stressed, “PTA has issued no such directive. The public is advised to refrain from sharing unverified information and to rely solely on PTA’s official channels for authentic updates.”

Misinformation Highlights Digital Challenges

This incident underscores the growing problem of misinformation online, where fake notifications use official logos and authoritative language to create confusion and panic among the public. Authorities continue to urge citizens to verify information before sharing and to rely on trusted official sources.