Answer:

Introduction:

The use of the internet and social media by non-state actors for subversive activities has become a major concern worldwide. These platforms, while being avenues for communication and information exchange, are also exploited for spreading propaganda, recruitment, and coordinating malicious activities.

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Recent Misuses of Internet and Social Media:

• Recruitment and Radicalization:
  • Groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda have extensively used the internet for recruitment and radicalization, reaching audiences globally.
  • For instance, the recruitment of Indian youth by ISIS via online platforms.
• Spreading Propaganda:
  • Social media has been a tool for disseminating extremist ideologies, fake news, and hate speech.
  • Incidents like the Panchkula violence in India were exacerbated due to the spread of misinformation on social media.
• Coordination of Activities:
  • Non-state actors have used encrypted communication to plan and coordinate attacks and subversive activities, as observed in the Paris attacks of 2015.

Guidelines to Curb the Threat:

• Strengthening Legal Framework: Enhancing cyber laws, such as the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 in India, to effectively counter internet misuse, aligning them with the evolving digital landscape.
• Monitoring and Surveillance: Fortifying online monitoring mechanisms while ensuring it doesn’t infringe upon privacy rights, as guided by the Supreme Court ruling on privacy in 2017.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Conducting cyber literacy and awareness programs, like India’s “Cyber Swachhta Kendra” initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, to educate citizens about online threats.
• International Cooperation: Amplifying global cooperation for cyber intelligence, information sharing, and harmonizing legal frameworks, as advocated by the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.

Conclusion:

While the misuse of internet and social media by non-state actors poses a significant challenge, it can be addressed through concerted efforts involving legal measures, technology, public awareness, and international cooperation, ensuring a safer and secure cyberspace.

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