1 day ago
Indian Creators Targeted in Alleged ISI Digital Campaign
Indian officials say Pakistan’s intelligence agency is trying a new way to influence people in India.
Instead of asking recruits to use violence, it allegedly wants them to make online videos and other content.
Some unemployed Indian creators are reportedly being offered money for this work.
The content may look like ordinary criticism or discussion at first.
Officials say the aim is to repeatedly highlight controversial issues.
They believe this could make people think the country has only problems.
Recruits are allegedly told to work alone so the network is harder to find.
Officials describe the effort as a long-term attempt to shape public opinion in India.
Indian intelligence officials allege that Pakistan is building a digital infiltration network to influence public discourse in India.
Unemployed Indian content creators and vloggers are reportedly being offered Rs 20,000–30,000 monthly to produce and circulate sensitive content.
The campaign allegedly focuses on amplifying political, security and previously settled controversies rather than openly promoting violence.
Recruits are reportedly instructed to work individually and help expand the network, making detection more difficult.
The allegations follow security operations in Jammu and Kashmir, including the killing of two terrorists in Udhampur district and the disruption of an overground-worker network.
- Who
- Indian intelligence officials allege that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence is recruiting Indian digital creators and vloggers.
- What
- An alleged digital campaign would pay recruits to create and circulate sensitive content designed to amplify controversies and influence India’s public narrative.
- Where
- The alleged campaign targets audiences in India and abroad, while the related counterterrorism operations took place in Jammu and Kashmir.
- When
- The campaign has reportedly developed in recent months; the article also refers to a security operation conducted on Wednesday.
- Why
- Officials say the effort followed Pakistan’s difficulty in reactivating terrorism and facilitating large-scale infiltration, and aims to influence and control public discourse through Indian recruits.
Key facts
- Reported monthly offer
- Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 for targeted content creators
- Primary recruits
- Unemployed Indian youths with digital-content or vlogging skills
- Content focus
- Political discourse, security issues and amplified controversies
- Operating method
- Recruits reportedly work individually rather than as teams
- Intended reach
- India and other parts of the world
- Related security operation
- Two terrorists were killed at Majalta in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district
- Network development
- Initial recruits were reportedly tasked with finding and briefing additional participants
Quotes
An official
An official describing the standards and progression expected of recruited content creators.
“The content needs to look professional, and strong points must be added to back their case. Most of the time such content could look like a normal discourse against the Indian system. However, as the reach grows, the content would get more aggressive”
thehansindia.com
“The intention is to pick issues that have created a controversy in the country and then keep amplifying the same”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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