Cyber Terrorism And Social Media: Legal Responses To Online Radicalization And Recruitment
- IJLLR Journal
- Mar 15
- 2 min read
Raghav Grover, B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), Law College Dehradun, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Dr. Bhawna Arora, Associate Professor, Law College Dehradun, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
ABSTRACT
Cyberterrorism and social media will be a growing threat to national and international security. Ideologically motivated cyberterrorism, unlike regular cybercrime, uses computer and digital technology-based tools to strike complex social dimensions like critical infrastructures, deliver extremist propaganda to the masses, and recruit vulnerable individuals. The rapid digitization and social-political sensitivities of the challenge are further compounded in India, requiring a strong legal basis. The Information Technology Act, 2000, particularly under Section 66F, the Unlawful Act (Prevention) Act, 1967 has been the main aid in tackling cyber terrorism, and hurdles like problems as a result of issues of jurisdiction, evidentiary complexities, and technological evolution remain to be overcome. Due to their global reach and encryption, social media platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, and Twitter have become tools for radicalization and recruitment. Government efforts like the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, of 2023, cybercrime cells, and public-private partnerships attempt to tackle the malaise but enforcement gaps, technical deficiencies, and international cooperation continue. However, we see that occurrences such as the Estonia attack of 2007 and India’s difficulty with encrypted communication indicate that there is a demand for further legal, technological, and diplomatic action to counter this type of cybercrime. Legislative frameworks need updating, technical capacity can be enhanced, international collaboration can be fostered, and the public can be better informed regarding the proper balance between individual freedoms and national security imperatives. In an always-connected world, the only way to deal with the evolving risks of cyberterrorism is through a synchronized, multi-dimensional approach.
Keywords: Cyber terrorism, social media, Information Technology Act, cybercrime, encryption, national security, digital evidence, radicalization, Digital Personal Data Protection Act, extremist propaganda.
