The ‘Social Media’ Challenge to National Security: Impact and Opportunities: A Conceptual Overview

Social media – its reach, impact and potential in a globalised world is no longer contested. It is a fascinating phenomenon which presents both challenges and opportunities to governments and law enforcement agencies across the spectrum. An investigation into how India has grappled with the challenges posed by the medium as also whether social media can be harnessed to act as a force multiplier for our enforcement agencies is essential. Issues related to the inadequacy of the Indian legal regime in dealing with social media and fears relating to breach of privacy and censorship of the internet also need to be addressed. The author tries to investigate these concerns in the monograph and has attempted to evaluate the perceptions, current capacities and challenges faced by security and law enforcement agencies in India while grappling with the phenomenon. The monograph hopes to succeed in providing a conceptual framework to understanding this emerging challenge and draw up a set of best practices and recommendations for policy makers and law enforcement agencies to move forward with.

About the Author

Shruti Pandalai is an Associate Fellow at IDSA, primarily working on issues related to India’s national security and foreign policy. Attached with the military centre, she has worked on projects for the National Security Council Secretariat, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs. India’s strategic thought and practice, India’s military history – the wars of 1962 and ’65 and their impact on contemporary foreign policy, Emerging challenges to national security and Forecasting and scenario projection are some of themes she has worked on. She has also published widely on the subject of Media and National Security at IDSA. Previously, Shruti was a broadcast journalist, a News Anchor and Senior Correspondent with a leading national English news network specialising in international affairs. She’s regular commentator in national and international media on matters of national security and is the recipient of the IDSA President’s Award 2016. She is an alumni of St Xavier’s College Calcutta, The Asian College of Journalism, Chennai and The Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy, SOAS, University of London.