Misinformation on social media challenge to national security

Hyderabad: National security expert, Dr PV Ramana cautioned on the many internal threats posed by Islamic radicalization in Jammu and Kashmir especially, on the eastern and western borders like SIMI, ISIS, LeT, JeM etc, radical militia in the North East, in the form of insurgency groups and the Left-wing extremism.

Speaking at "Social Media Sangamam' organised by Samachara Bharati, in the city recently, Raman explained how the dual-use technologies which are not only used for trivia on social media but also well designed destructive agendas.

"Unlike the popular narrative that these are misguided elements, all these outfits are very clear about their destructive agendas detrimental to the country's integrity and economy.

He said that social media is being used to indoctrinate and recruit youth with misinformation and propaganda, and lies and misinformation should be countered with facts effectively in real-time crisply.

On `fake news', Chalasani Narendra of Nijam web-portal said that the social media is being used to create mistrust by spreading misinformation and lies against all democratic institutions.

Massive agitations across the world whether in Hongkong or Shaheenbagh are being generated through the social media. Sai Krishna of National Hub Youtube channel said that the anti-national propaganda is presented as a neutral and intellectual narrative. Hence, "there is a need to refute the misinformation campaign.

Speaking on the subject of `RTI and Legal Activism', AS Santosh from Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) explained the `online legal activism'.

Presenting a case study, he explained how LRPF used RT and existing legal provisions to address the religious conversions issue of church evangelism, foreign missionaries holding events in India violating visa norms, NGOs violating FCRA norms.

Another video-blogger Raka Sudhakar Rao highlighted how a `Hybrid warfare', of perception and information, is unlashed.

He said over 5000 Pakistan-based social media handles are spreading fake news, fake videos and false propaganda on CAA. Sudhakar stressed on to observe, track, research and refute misinformation campaigns.