Countering Indian disinformation
DISINFORMATION refers to the intentional spread of false or misleading information with the aim of deceiving or manipulating people’s beliefs, attitudes, opinions, or behaviours. It is often spread through various mediums such as social media, news outlets, or propaganda, and can be used for various purposes such as political, economic, or social gains. A significant contributor to today’s interstate disputes is the prevalence of fake news. More and more nations are utilizing disinformation efforts to influence and change public opinion at home and abroad. State-led disinformation campaigns on social media are a recent phenomenon, but a study by the RAND Corporation, an American non-profit global policy think tank, indicates that several nations have used this strategy abroad to advance and promote a specific narrative – and in most cases against a foreign foe.
Such deceptive campaigns, which promote unverified information on social media, have had operational triumphs, but it is less clear what effect they will have overall. Nonetheless, it issues a warning that during the following ten years, the distribution of false information is likely to increase.The EU DisinfoLab has often used concrete evidence to demonstrate India’s affinity for disinformation campaigns against Pakistan and China. The international community continued to denounce this heinous act, but it still appears that none of this was sufficient to put pressure on India to change its behavior.
Asian News International (ANI), which continues to promote false narratives against the two nations, is the subject of the EU Dis InfoLab’s most recent research into anti-Pakistan and anti-China influence activities. The research also builds on two earlier investigations that were released in 2019 and 2020 and that uncovered the fake experts, nonexistent think tanks, bloggers, and journalists that Asian News International (ANI) frequently cites as news sources.According to the most recent inquiry, ANI has been frequently citing a think tank that was disbanded in 2014 while using quotes from a journalist, a number of bloggers, and purported geopolitical experts who were not real. According to the research, ANI quoted from the same think tank almost twice a week. The website of the think tank also misrepresents actual Canadian university professors as attendees of a conference that they never went to and quotes fake statements by linking them to these academics.
An important part of India’s information network is played by the news agency ANI, which produces content for numerous reputable publications like The Print and Business Standard.The news agency has come under fire for misreporting events, using a massive network of fake news websites as a source, and acting as a propaganda weapon for the central authority in power. ANI has also been charged with employing an aggressive approach to journalism that was centered on producing the most amount of income possible and for which journalists could be readily replaced. Several workers have accused ANI of mistreating their former colleagues and of lacking a human resource management system.
It’s important to note that the independent publication The Caravan had earlier charged ANI with publishing the “version of the truth” as presented by the Indian government. Furthermore, two earlier investigations by the EU Dis Info Lab showed that ANI frequently cited the non-operational fake media outlets “EP Today” and “EU Chronicles,” which were actually founded to promote anti-Pakistan and anti-China narratives that would harm both countries’ reputations not just in India but globally.
Such careless reporting is a flagrant violation of the Munich Charter of 1971, which outlines the obligations of responsible journalism. Fake news is often regarded as a serious security issue, especially if it is state-sponsored. Fake news is defined as purposely manufactured news pieces. Such media strategies might be seen as a component of AjitDoval, the national security adviser of India, a bigger theory intended to launch hybrid warfare against Pakistan.
A hybrid war that has been escalating against Pakistan for the past ten years has now reached a breaking point over the past four years. All five of the hybrid war’s components have been used against Pakistan during the past few years, but the main problem is propaganda tools like false news and misinformation. India has been using hybrid warfare and 5GW tactics to destabilize Pakistan because conventional military methods are no longer effective on the subcontinent in light of the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Hybrid warfare is a battle of information, narratives, perceptions, and postmodern technology.
Countering disinformation is a challenging task, but there are a few strategies that can be effective in countering Indian disinformation specifically. Here are some steps that can be taken: Fact-checking: The first step is to fact-check any information that is suspected to be disinformation. Verify the authenticity of the source and the accuracy of the information before sharing. Raise awareness: Educate others about the prevalence of disinformation and the tactics used by those who spread it. Encourage critical thinking and skepticism. Teach people how to spot and report disinformation. Diversify your news sources: Relying on one source of news can make you vulnerable to disinformation. Try to get your news from a variety of sources, including international news outlets. Use social media responsibly: Be cautious when sharing information on social media. Check the source and accuracy of the information before sharing it. Report disinformation to the platform and encourage others to do the same.
Support independent media: Independent media outlets are less likely to spread disinformation because they do not have political affiliations or financial interests. Support independent media by subscribing to their publications or donating to their organizations. Engage in dialogue: Engage in dialogue with those who spread disinformation. Do not attack them, but instead ask questions and provide evidence to counter their arguments. This can help change their perspective and prevent them from spreading disinformation in the future. India uses propaganda, media, proxy wars, and sponsors’ militancy to disrupt Pakistan’s socio-political and ethno-nationalistic structure, and Pakistan must develop a counter-threat response that unites all institutions and unites diverse political parties and religious factions.
