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24 Jul 2025
GS Paper 3
Internal Security
Day 34: “The internet connects minds and breeds mines.” Discuss how digital platforms are being misused to destabilize internal security in India. (150 words)
Approach:
- Start with the dual nature of the internet.
- Discuss how digital platforms are being misused to destabilize internal security in India.
- Mention some government initiatives to counter these threats.
- Conclude with a suitable way forward.
Introduction:
The internet, while a tool of empowerment and connectivity, has also become a battleground for cybercrimes, radicalization, and information warfare. India, with over 850 million internet users, faces growing threats where digital platforms are weaponized to disrupt internal security.
Body :
Digital Platforms Destabilizing Internal Security
- Terror Recruitment and Radicalization:
- Extremist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda use social media, encrypted apps (Telegram, Signal), and dark web platforms for recruitment and propaganda.
- The arrest of ISIS operatives in Kerala (2021) showed how online indoctrination bypasses physical borders.
- Spreading Fake News and Hate Speech:
- Fake videos during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots and 2020 Delhi riots incited violence and communal tension.
- Platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook are exploited to amplify hatred.
- Cyber Attacks on Critical Infrastructure:
- The AIIMS ransomware attack (2022) and hacking attempts on power grids in Ladakh (2020) highlight vulnerabilities of India’s critical sectors to hostile cyber actors.
- Cross-border Propaganda and Psychological Warfare:
- Adversarial states, particularly Pakistan, use bots, trolls, and deepfakes to spread anti-India narratives, especially on Kashmir and CAA protests.
- Illicit Trade via Dark Web:
- Arms, narcotics, and counterfeit currency are traded online, often linked to terror funding and organized crime.
Government Measures
- Information Technology Act, 2000, with Section 69A for blocking harmful content.
- National Cyber Security Policy (2013) and CERT-In for incident response.
- Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and Cyber Swachhta Kendra for real-time monitoring.
- IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2021 mandate accountability of platforms like Twitter and Meta.
- Public campaigns like Cyber Surakshit Bharat promote cyber hygiene.
Conclusion:
Strengthening AI-driven content monitoring, enforcing legal frameworks like the Digital India Act, promoting counter-narrative campaigns, and enhancing international cooperation (e.g., Budapest Convention on Cybercrime) alongside digital literacy will be crucial to counter online radicalization and safeguard internal security.
