UPSC Mains 2016 GS3 Q20 — Cyber Security
Use of Internet and social media by non-state actors for subversive activities is a major security concern. How have these been misused in the recent past? Suggest effective guidelines to curb the above threat. (Answer in not more than 200 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- How haveSuggest
- Scope keywords
- Internet and social medianon-state actorssubversive activitiesmajor security concernmisused in the recent pasteffective guidelines
- Implicit sub-parts
- What specific categories of non-state actors (terrorist orgs, lone wolves, hacktivists) are the primary threats?
- How do these tools facilitate the lifecycle of subversion (radicalization, recruitment, funding, and operational coordination)?
- What are the specific contemporary examples/incidents that illustrate this misuse?
- What multi-layered guidelines (technical, legislative, and international) are needed to counter this without infringing on privacy?
- Common pitfalls
- Writing a generic essay on 'Social Media pros and cons' instead of focusing strictly on 'subversive activities' and security.
- Failing to name specific 'recent past' examples like the ISIS recruitment modules, Manipur ethnic violence misinformation, or the use of deepfakes.
- Suggesting vague solutions like 'education' without proposing concrete 'guidelines' such as AI-based monitoring, real-time metadata sharing, or international treaties.
- Ignoring the role of 'Internet' as a whole (Dark Web, encrypted comms) by focusing solely on 'Social Media' platforms.
- Dimensions required
- Technological (Encryption/AI)Legal/Legislative (IT Rules/BNS)Psychological (Radicalization/Disinformation)Operational/Internal SecurityInternational/Geopolitical (Cross-border data flows)
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate roughly 25-30 words for a brief context of the threat. Devote 80-90 words to analyzing misuse with specific recent examples to satisfy the first demand. Spend the remaining 80 words on precise, actionable guidelines across technological and policy frameworks to ensure a high-scoring balanced response.
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