Threat of terrorism through cyberspace, social media increased

New Delhi: The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, has said that the risk of terrorist attacks using cyberspace and social media has increased to a scale like never before. Intelligence agencies of countries hostile to India are fuelling radicalization and propaganda through borderless cyberspace. The Union MoS for Home Affairs also pointed out that this is a dangerous matter for the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

Moreover, Union MoS for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai highlighted this danger in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. Cyberspace and social media on a virtual level extend beyond borders. Through this, anyone spreading misinformation, propaganda and radicalization can remain anonymous. Moreover, the speed of spreading this information has increased greatly due to the advancement of technology. That is why the risk of terrorist attacks using cyberspace and social media has increased and this risk has reached an unprecedented level, Nityanand Rai said.

Rai pointed out that intelligence agencies of countries hostile to India use cyberspace and social media to spread radicalization. But the country’s security agencies are keeping an eye on cyberspace and social media. The Union MoS for Home Affairs warned that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators of such illegal activities that challenge the country’s security. Nityanand Rai also informed that according to Section 69A of the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act 2000, strict action could be taken against content transmitted by social media accounts for illegal and malicious purposes and this content can be blocked.

Nityanand Rai reminded that the NIA Act 2008 has been amended for effective investigation and strict action against the offences in this regard. Meanwhile, earlier, it had come to light that accounts publishing inflammatory content on social media were being handled from Pakistan. This has highlighted the problem of cyberterrorism further. In the ‘No Money for Terror’ conference held in New Delhi last month, India had warned that a conspiracy was being planned to spread terrorism and raise money for terrorists using social media.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the world aware of this danger while inaugurating the ‘No Money for Terror’ conference. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also highlighted this danger and appealed to the international community to unite against it.

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