Page 11 - The Indian EYE 022026

OPINION FEBRUARY 20, 2026 | The Indian Eye 11

of ‘anti-social media’ has emerged in
recent years, which seeks to abandon
mainstream platforms, reduce screen
time, and seek private, intimate, or
even ‘analogue’ communication to
avoid algorithm-driven polarisation,
surveillance and loneliness.
However, some of these so-called
anti-social media platforms have also
become off-the-wall mediums for
disseminating extremist propaganda.
Young users strategically construct
online identities and cultivate large
numbers of online ‘friends’ based on
shared interests. They even use spe-
cialised, encrypted apps in the deep
web and dark web to ensure ano-
nymity and security, and often inad-
vertently enter rabbit holes and echo
chambers of radical forces, thus risk-
ing being radicalised and recruited by
terror groups. The For You Page (FYP) on TikTok demonstrates how algorithms can push users towards far-right, hateful, or violent content through a continu-
ISIS is known to have utilised so- ous stream of recommendations (File photo)
cial media platforms between 2013 and
2017 to marshal their terrorist forces, push users towards far-right, hateful, saging apps to provide bank transfer, Electronics and Information Tech-
agents and operatives during their or violent content through a contin- hawala, or cryptocurrency details. nology (MeitY) blocked thousands
terror ops. They broadcast wartime uous stream of recommendations. Many terrorist groups use social of terror-tainted accounts.
events in near-real time, transforming Similar pathways exist even on You- media platforms to promote crypto-
the Syrian conflict into one of the most Tube, where users exploring main- currency addresses, thereby masking Conclusion
socially mediated conflicts in history. stream political topics can be guid- the movement of their funds and In addition to the present ef-
In fact, terrorists use social media ed towards extremist channels and evading sanctions. Terrorists also forts at reforming digital platforms
for eight main purposes: conspiracy theories such as QAnon. abuse legitimate crowdfunding plat- to counter disinformation, where ef-
• For propaganda In fact, YouTube has stated it plans forms by setting up campaigns dis- forts seem to be focused on blocking,
• For scouting radical recruits to purge conspiracy theory content guised as humanitarian aid, charity, or content moderation and fact-check-
• For indoctrination and radicalisa- used to justify real-world violence. supporting families of terror inmates. ing, attention may also be paid to
tion of recruits Algorithms pose dual risks in reforming the online advertising
• For generating finances through terrorism: extremists use them for Social Media Exploitation: market, which should be barred from
apps for terrorist activities sophisticated recruitment, propa- India’s Strategy financially backing extremist content.
• For conducting cyberattacks (hack- ganda (deepfakes, targeted messag- India’s strategy against so- Credible punitive action should also
ing, doxxing, flaming) ing), cyberattacks and planning. The cial media exploitation employs a be taken against popular ‘influenc-
• For combat training and explosives/ rise of deepfake AI technologies ‘whole-of-government’ approach, ers’ who are found to be undermining
weapons manufacturing has increased the risk of data theft, combining legal frameworks, ad- democratic values and institutions or
• For making terror plans and for co- socio-cognitive community hacking, vanced technology and international to be engaged in disseminating hate
ordinating terror attacks fake-identity fraud and forgeries, on- cooperation to combat online radi- speech and anti-social propaganda.
• For marshalling terrorists/agents/ line trolling, flaming and doxxing, as calisation, propaganda and terrorist In the end, there needs to be a con-
forces during terror ops well as the proliferation of incrimi- financing. certed campaign at the global, re-
Despite best efforts to curb mis- nating memes and hate content. The Information Technology gional and national levels in creating
use, we often find that even popular Governments and intelligence (IT) Rules 2021 empower law en- standards and legislative frameworks
social media platforms such as Face- agencies around the world have also forcement to mandate the removal along with mechanisms for infor-
book and Twitter struggle to prevent begun utilising AI to analyse vast of unlawful content within 24 hours. mation sharing and joint actions to
radicals from disseminating their datasets (e.g., communications and Section 69A of the IT Act is used counter the abuse of social media for
messages, spreading propaganda and financial records) to identify patterns to block websites, URLs and social extremist and terrorism purposes.
indoctrination, and building large and potential threats. It helps process media accounts related to extrem-
networks. It is often too late for these diverse data from CCTV, emails and ist groups. Under the same legal Dr Adil Rasheed is Research Fellow
social media platforms to detect such internet logs to build intelligence. It provisions, Indian authorities have (Selection Scale) and Coordinator of
activities and remove them from pub- can also help detect and respond to enhanced their capacity to track sus- the Counter Terrorism Centre at the
lic view. AI-augmented cyber threats against picious accounts, with a particular Manohar Parrikar Institute for Strate-
In addition, end-to-end encrypt- infrastructure. focus on encrypted platforms. gic Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA)
ed (E2EE) apps, such as WhatsApp, Social media platforms have also Artificial Intelligence (AI), big Views expressed are of the author and
Telegram, Signal, Viber, Discord and become a highly critical channel for data analytics and facial recogni- do not necessarily reflect the views of
Olvid, are widely used by extremist terrorist financing (TF), with reports tion tools are being used to detect the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
and radical actors to create so-called by institutions like the Financial Ac- terrorist networks, monitor radical Government of India.
‘secure echo chambers’ for radicalisa- tion Task Force (FATF) indicating discourse and map influence. The
tion, recruitment and attack planning. that the highest percentage of inter- Defence Research and Develop- This article first appeared in the
net-based terror activities relate to ment Organisation (DRDO) has Comments section of the website (www.
Algorithmic AI terror funding. In fact, after initiating developed NETRA (Network Traffic idsa.in) of Manohar Parrikar Institute
The For You Page (FYP) on Tik- contact on public platforms, organ- Analysis) to monitor encrypted com- for Defense Studies and Analyses, New
Tok demonstrates how algorithms can isers often move to encrypted mes- munication. In 2024, the Ministry of Delhi, on February 10, 2026

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