India has second-largest social media market with 491 million active users. However, in 2025, these platforms are central to “Grey Zone Warfare” as their architecture creates a “security paradox”
Challenges Posed by Social Media & Encrypted Messaging
Social Media Challenges
Algorithmic Echo Chambers creating polarized “digital silos”. (India Hate Lab report)
Cognitive Warfare- Eg- “Bot-farms” to build anti-India narratives
Cyber Stalking and Harassment – Eg- Women targeted through doxxing and revenge porn.
Online Radicalisation – Eg- ISIS recruitment through social media.
Encrypted Messaging Challenges
Traceability Paradox- End-to-end encryption prevents law enforcement from identifying the “first originator”
Operational Backbone for Terror- Eg- ISIS and LeT using Telegram or Signal
Serve as the front-end for darknet markets dealing in narcotics and illegal firearms.
Shadow Financial Hubs- Eg- use of “self-destructing” messages for “Digital Arrest” extortions
Measures Adopted at Various Levels
Legal and Regulatory Framework
IT Rules, 2021 – mandate Traceability, requiring significant social media intermediaries to identify the “first originator” on court orders.
DPDP Act- Requires data breach notifications to the Data Protection Board within 72 hours.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 353 penalizes the spread of misinformation causing public fear.
Institutional and Operational Measures
I4C acts as the national nodal point for identifying and removing unlawful content.
CyberDome Project (Kerala) to monitor the Darknet and social media for criminal patterns.
“Operation Blackface” of Maharashtra Police Cyber Department for crack down on Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)
Global and Social Initiatives
India actively participates in the UN Convention against Cybercrime (2024) and the Christchurch Call to eliminate extremist content.
Initiatives like Cyber Swachhta Kendra and the 1930 Helpline promote “Digital Hygiene.”
Suggested Remedies to Address the Problem
Metadata Analysis over Decryption- By analyzing “who talks to whom, when, and from where” (metadata), to identify criminal clusters.
Mandating social media platforms to undergo independent audits of their “Recommendation Engines.”
Implementing mandatory Digital Watermarking for all AI-generated content (deepfakes).
Establishing an independent, statutory Digital Ombudsman to provide a “Single-Window” grievance redressal mechanism for citizens
Mandatory SIM-Binding for messaging apps to prevent the use of international virtual numbers in local scams like “Digital Arrests.”
Integrating “Cognitive Defense” and digital civics into school and college curricula.
Formalizing a real-time data-sharing bridge between the I4C and tech giants to instantly “freeze” fraudulent financial flows during the Golden Hour.
Community Fact-Checking Models- Empowering certified organizations with “Priority Reporting” status on platforms to flag virally dangerous misinformationce.
Push for a Global Cyber-Extradition Framework to ensure that criminals operating from “Safe Haven” countries can be prosecuted.
Sovereign Messaging Alternatives- Eg- apps like Sandes for government communication.
Adopting global best practices
“Duty of Care” Principle (UK)- Shifting burden of safety from the user to the platform.
EU’s Digital Services Act for Algorithmic Transparency
Estonia’s e-residency program using Blockchain
For “Safe and Trusted Cyberspace” there is need for a “Whole-of-Nation” approach