Jago Bharat: The Algorithm Is The New Ammunition

Operation Sindoor may have rattled Pakistan’s terror infrastructure and crippled its forward assets across the LoC, but the real war, it turns out, is far from over.

This one isn’t fought with drones or bullets. It’s being waged through thumbnails, hashtags, and “harmless” vlogs. The new battlefield isn’t Kargil. It’s your screen.

In the aftermath of Sindoor’s surgical precision, Indian agencies now face an equally daunting challenge: a covert digital onslaught, orchestrated by YouTubers, influencers, and social media stars—some witting, others dangerously naïve.

Jyoti Malhotra, a seemingly innocuous travel vlogger, is at the epicenter of a growing scandal. Her arrest on charges of espionage and suspected links to Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs) is just the tip of a digital iceberg. Investigators believe her popular travel videos—posted just weeks after Op Sindoor—were not mere escapist content but carefully crafted narratives laced with strategic intent.

Malhotra’s trips to Pakistan in March, her meeting with Mariam Nawaz, attending an Iftar hosted by the Pakistan Embassy in Delhi, and regular contact with a Pak official who later surfaced in Pahalgam with a cake—all paint a damning picture. These weren’t diplomatic engagements. They were psychological operations dressed up as travel diaries.

In 2022, there were over 51 million YouTube channels worldwide with more than 10 subscribers. India hosted over 60 channels with 10 million+ subscribers—a staggering influence base with no editorial checks, no regulatory scrutiny, and no accountability.

According to info available on Google, CarryMinati, India’s most independent YouTuber and rapper, has over 45 million followers. His channel is just one example of how deeply embedded influencers have become in the national psyche. From comedy to commentary, from unboxing gadgets to unboxing propaganda—this digital free-for-all has turned smartphones into potent tools of influence; and in some cases, infiltration.

The three videos flagged in the post-Sindoor probe didn’t feature guns, grenades, or overt propaganda. They featured curated montages, aesthetic drone shots, and emotional soundtracks. Yet, intelligence officials warn, they may have done more to damage the nation’s morale than a cache of arms ever could.

This is the new war doctrine: subtlety over salvos, virality over violence. You don’t need to incite rebellion with fiery speeches. A sigh here, a misplaced statistic there, a story of “the other side”—wrapped in slick editing and heart-tugging music—can be enough to weaken faith, foster division, and question sovereignty.

Foreign funding remains a murky, largely unregulated realm. Sponsored trips, content “collaborations” with overseas NGOs, and ad revenue routed through shell companies make tracing influence nearly impossible. Yet, the signs are evident.

These aren’t just partnerships—they’re pipelines. Pipelines of narrative control, disguised as pop culture. Content is no longer king. Influence is. And when influence goes unchecked, it quickly becomes interference.

Print and TV media are to some extent bound by editorial standards and legal oversight (though of late they are finding ways and means to cross the redline), influencers aren’t. That vacuum has become fertile ground for psychological manipulation and information warfare.

And it’s not just foreign actors. Indian political parties—national and regional—have weaponised social media in ways no traditional newsroom could match.

Between 2019 and 2024, the YSRCP flooded Andhra Pradesh’s digital space with influencer-led false and smear campaigns.

In Telangana, the BRS-Congress war became a meme war—where truth was the first casualty. Political parties, including national parties, need to be put under scanner as they have mastered the art of spreading baseless news without any responsibility running slick disinformation ops in the guise of satire, commentary, or “just asking questions.” They abuse the very freedoms they claim to protect.

Many of these digital warriors have never seen a newsroom, let alone understand journalistic ethics. Yet they declare themselves fact-checkers, truth-seekers, and social reformers—all while towing party lines or, worse, foreign agendas.

It’s time India treats its digital domain as a theatre of national security. The old rules don’t apply anymore. A young girl with a camera can reach more people in a day than Doordarshan does in a week. What she says—or is paid to say—can tip sentiment, fuel unrest, or sabotage public trust. To counter this, a Digital Defence Doctrine is essential like mandatory registration of all influencers with over one million subscribers, compulsory disclosure of foreign partnerships or sponsorships, cyber Ethics Board to review ideologically sensitive content, stringent penalties for spreading misinformation or hate under IPC Sections like 153A.

Digital literacy programs in schools to foster critical thinking from a young age should also be introduced.

Responsibility isn’t just institutional. It’s personal. If you're a viewer—especially a young, impressionable one—ask questions before clicking "like": Is this creator credible? Are their claims backed by evidence or emotion? Do they consistently bash one side and ignore the other?

Bias, hidden or visible, is a powerful tool of manipulation. Don’t fall for production quality. Look for intent behind the content. Most importantly: don’t share personal data online. Doxxing, cyberstalking, and fraud are not rare—they're rampant. Being careless can cost your money, your safety, and your dignity.

If you see dangerous content—don’t ignore it. Report it. Platforms like YouTube offer tools to flag misleading or harmful videos. Use them. And if you find content bordering on hate speech or incitement, legal recourse exists. Know the law. Use the law. Don't just complain—act. This is not a call for censorship. Free speech is sacred—a pillar of our democracy. But freedom without responsibility is a loaded gun in the wrong hands.

The digital age has blurred the line between entertainment and indoctrination, between commentary and conspiracy. We must redraw that line—and draw it boldly.

The 11 arrests post-Op Sindoor are not anomalies. They are warning shots. The real defence now lies not in bunkers or border posts but in brains—in your home, in your classroom, on your feed. It lies with parents who talk, teachers who teach critical thought, and citizens who think before they share.

It’s time for a new kind of patriotism. Not one that shouts from rooftops, but one that listens, questions, and understands. Digital patriotism! Thoughtful patriotism! Informed patriotism!

This is because in 2025, the most dangerous war isn’t being fought in the hills and valleys of Kashmir. It’s being fought in your mind.

Jago Bharat! The screen is your battlefield. Choose your side wisely.

(The author is former Chief Editor of Hans India)