Experts Warn of Rising Cyber Extremism as India Blocks Pro-Khalistan URLs

Social media platforms, such as Facebook*, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, have become breeding grounds for Khalistani radical groups, signalling growing concern over the misuse of digital platforms for spreading extremist ideologies and conducting illicit activities, experts told Sputnik India.

Cybercriminals are leveraging advanced technologies like artificial intelligence to spread extremist content with minimal effort, Pavan Duggal, a cyber-law expert and Supreme Court advocate, highlighted in a conversation with Sputnik India.

"Cybercriminals obliterate their electronic footprints to make it difficult for law enforcement to trace them. They get paid for disseminating extremist content and have no moral qualms in spreading harmful content," Duggal stated.

Since social media platforms provide vast, easily accessible audiences, it is easy for extremist groups to influence or manipulate people for ideological and political gain and promote certain agendas, Mukesh Chaudhary, a cybercrime consultant and CEO of Cyberops Infosec, told Sputnik India.

He cited the example of the 2020 farmers' protests in India, which also had the support of many Khalistani radicals in various countries.

"During the farmers' protests, a toolkit was shared by Greta Thunberg that instructed protesters on how to use hashtags and post content effectively to gain attention. This reflects how individuals or groups can manipulate social media to advance political or ideological causes", Chaudhary said.

The rise of private messaging apps and encrypted channels complicates efforts to trace and neutralise extremist content, Chaudhary explained. He noted that investigators often create fake accounts to infiltrate private groups, but the process is slow and requires international cooperation, which is further hindered by differing national laws.

Cyber extremism poses a significant challenge for law enforcement in tracing activities and moderating content on global platforms, especially regarding sensitive issues like the Khalistan referendum, Duggal pointed out, adding that Internet jurisdiction and the application of uniform community standards complicate matters.

"Platforms tend to prioritise freedom of speech, but this can't come at the cost of national security. These platforms need to recognise the impact their content can have on the sovereignty and integrity of nations", Duggal stressed.

While freedom of speech is protected, those promoting harmful or illegal content must face consequences if they violate platform policies, Chaudhary suggested.

"Some users post controversial content in the form of questions or ambiguous language to avoid detection. Criminals and extremists are well-versed in using these tools and also research on the policies of social media companies to avoid detection", Chaudhary explains.

Moreover, the varied laws of the social media companies in different countries make investigation difficult.

To address these issues, experts advocate for regular "cyber patrolling" to monitor suspicious online activity, similar to traditional police patrols. This would involve establishing dedicated cyber units at the district level for continuous monitoring of social media.

Experts also stress the urgent need for a national social media policy in India that would ensure digital platforms comply with the state laws and corporations while investigating cybercrime and dealing with extremist content.

* Meta products banned in Russia for extremism

Political Affairs

Pro-Khalistanis Seek to Use Farmers' Protest to Promote Agenda

13 February 2024, 20:25

Experts Warn of Rising Cyber Extremism as India Blocks Thousands of Pro-Khalistan URLs