Social media used by militants to copy IS modus operandi: Govt

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 23

Even as the J&K Government has already indicated that it may continue with the social media ban in Kashmir, intelligence reports have suggested that “active and prominent” militants have been using social media platforms for enhancing their appeal and extending outreach.

The intelligence agencies have also pointed to attempts by militants to “copy the modus operandi” of ‘extremist and violent’ organistions like the ISIS by the “misuse” of Internet-based social media services.

This has been revealed by the government in a report submitted to the High Court to defend the social media ban, which today directed the Chief Secretary to file a reply within two weeks. “There were intelligence reports that active and prominent militants have used social media platforms for enhancing their appeal and extending their outreach by brandishing automatic weapons to affect the psychology of youth and alter impressionable minds towards extremist and violent ideology,” the state government has submitted in its report to the High Court today while opposing the petitions.

The report has further said that the social media sites also played a “contributory role” in “provoking and spreading recent violence” during the parliamentary bypoll in Srinagar-Budgam in which nine civilian protesters were killed in government forces firing.