Dr A Z Hilali
IN the beginning of 21st century, the rise of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has transformed the world into an information-driven society.
Simultaneously, the invention of digital technology has paved the way for innovations in the fields of media, on-line communication and collaboration. The contemporary society is increasingly connected and digitalized, with algorithms and computers facilitating daily life and it has improved access to information and knowledge in terms of scale, scope and speed. So, electronic-based information and communication technologies have a transformational impact on the society and dramatically influencing the countries at all levels of development. At the moment, digital media is the ruler of streets and it is the real culprit for society’s anxieties or victor of the psychological warfare and scapegoat of disinformation campaigns.
In the contemporary time, the national security of Pakistan has been the subject of intensive debate and analysis due to the ongoing digital technology which is perceived to be the one of the most serious threats and challenging to national institutions and country’s security. It is reality that social media has become the causes to harm people prestige and somehow has ruined society traditions and values. It is one of the potential sources to disgrace anyone, particularly political leaders, showbiz people and professionals. The technological icon perceived that social media has crossed the ethical frontiers of social norms and national institutions of the country is facing insecurity from the waves of technological advancement and called this move “digital terrorism” which is dangerous because of its multi-dimensionality and attempting to destabilize the country. It has proved that the elements of digital technology can give significant losses to the national institutions and can badly affects the state, society and system. The country’s guardian is obviously right to believe that digital technology has promoted ‘fascist’ tendencies and have disrupted the mainstream politics of the country. They have created anxiety in the country and have fuelled destructive acts in national politics which are harmful for the nation and country.
In reality, digital technology is an integral part of social media, can be utilize as an advanced information and communication system to collect, store, analyze and share physical information to others. So, the opponent of the country and its agents easily can create negative images or confusion about the national issues and its institutions and on one can imagine the severity of implications. Thus, they are using digital technology as social media platforms to create chaos and disorder in society through malicious campaigns. Further, this technology is perceived to be myth or imaginarium in which things can visualize by emotional landscape by weaving a tale of fear and self-reflection. Thepeople who are using digital media in Pakistan, they have particular socio-political designs either to confuse or mislead masses just to achieve specific goals. For this purpose, they are spreading fake news which is the part of negative propaganda to create socio-political instability in the country. So, Pakistan’s national institutions such as army and judiciary are under the digital attack and facing poisonous spellsfrom the electronically skills elements who are involved to destabilize the country.
It has been proven that anti-state elements have used digital technology to create friction or confusion among the people and institutions. They are successful in polarizing society on the basis of politics, religion, and culture. They have created more or less unrelated upheavals in the country. Their temptation is great as they have shaken the country’s basic pillars. Thus, the effects of the digital revolution are profound in the realm of national security and have already transformed the domestic security landscape. On the other side, opponents use media in such a manner that there is no space left for meaningful dialogue and both sides seem unwilling for unconditional reconciliation, which is not fair for the country’s political stability. So, in the present time, digital technology is an art in which the rigid are always losers and the flexible will be winners. In this regard, the vanguard of the country must take initiatives to reduce political tension to defeat internal or external enemies of the country. The positive actions by the ruling elites will prevent polarization and will strengthen democratic culture in the country. It is better to boost understanding, which will stabilize society and reduce anger. Thus, the symptom of diversity must be discouraged in a politically and culturally homogenistic society. Nonetheless, people’s dependence on social media is dangerous and highly injurious to socio-political stability, and its effects are irreversible. The country’s vanguard must be careful and must take effective measures to prevent digital proliferation because, without that, it will be difficult to protect national security and national institutions. The country’s elites must explore ways to seize information superiority to gain decisive advantages over their opponents
—The writer is Ex-Chairman, Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar, KP.
