Somalia’s Spy Agency Shuts Down 12,000 Social Media Accounts Linked to Al-Shabaab

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has closed down over 10,000 social media accounts, which it said were used by Al-Shabaab to spread its propaganda.

The intelligence agency said it secured to shutdown of 5,648 Facebook accounts, 4,340 TikTok channels, and 1,978 channels in the encrypted messaging platform, Telegram.

NISA added that it also successfully sought the closure of 24 X (Twitter) handles, 15 WhatsApp accounts, and 5 news websites. In total, 12,010 social media and internet accounts were deactivated following the request of NISA to the respective internet service providers.

The agency said the accounts were opened and operated by Al-Shabaab using face identities, including photos and names.

Al-Shabaab is known to use various social media networks and news websites to spread its propaganda and advance its ideology.

The crackdown is part of the ongoing efforts by security agencies to fight Al-Shabaab.