Day 92 – Q 1.How is fake news a grave internal security threat? Explain.

1. How is fake news a grave internal security threat? Explain. 

नकली समाचार एक गंभीर आंतरिक सुरक्षा खतरा कैसे है? समझाएं।

Introduction:

Fake news is news, stories or hoaxes created to deliberately misinform or deceive readers. Usually, these stories are created to either influence people’s views, push a political agenda or cause confusion and can often be a profitable business for online publishers.

It contravenes with the fundamental right to have informed choices and once exposed to it, the credibility of genuine news is decreased. Fake news can create adverse opinion for any subject or material and has the potential to be efficiently used for malafide propaganda. Mob lynchings in India, influence on US Presidential Election in 2016 and tension between Pak-Israel are clear cut results of fake news across the world.

Body

Dangers of fake news for internal security

It is misleading people, spreading false propaganda or maligning people as well as entire communities. It can severely impact the social, political and economic stability of a country.

The rapid spread of false information through social media is among the emerging risks identified by the World Economic Forum in its Global Risks 2013 Report.

• Fake can break the fraternity among citizens. It sparks panic and raises conflicts. Eg – Cauvery dispute when malicious rumors and fake news led to the antagonism.
• Communal tensions may develop as deliberately created content appeals to passions.
• Acting upon the fake news circulated through social media, the incidents of mob lynching have increased across the country.
• This is a severe threat to the security as victims are mostly from minority community and perpetrator is faceless mob. Thus security agencies can not act definitively.
• Fake news has the ability to create lasting hatred among various sections of society.
• It’s used to vilify the image of political rivals while impacting democratic right to choose the right candidate.
• The extremists and fundamentalist groups are using fake news as a tool for spreading unrest in the society in Kashmir, North East, and Maoist infested areas.
• It has the prospects of destabilizing the markets and causing huge losses to the country.
• A simple fake news can make people run for their money from banks causing mass panic and causing law and order situations.

Conclusion

National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), Central Monitoring System (CMS), Internet Spy System Network and Traffic Analysis System (NETRA) of India, National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIPC) of India, National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) of India, Tri Service Cyber Command for Armed Forces of India are some of the step taken by India that will help to curb fake news.