 Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 9: As radical groups and terrorist networks operating from different parts of the world intensify online radicalisation campaigns, experts have advocated the strategic use of artificial intelligence (AI) and community-based interventions to counter the growing digital threat.
Security and technology experts said AI can play a crucial role not only as a surveillance mechanism but also as a preventive tool. Predictive analytics can help identify behavioural shifts that may indicate early stages of radicalisation, such as repeated engagement with extremist content, sudden changes in online activity, or participation in closed groups promoting violent ideologies. Such insights, they said, can enable early intervention through counselling and digital outreach rather than relying solely on punitive measures.
Experts also suggested the deployment of AI-powered chatbots and virtual counsellors as frontline support systems. These tools can engage vulnerable users anonymously, address doubts, and redirect them to verified religious scholars or mental health professionals.
Similar models, they noted, have shown encouraging results in de-radicalisation initiatives in parts of the Middle East and Europe.
However, specialists stressed that technology alone cannot address the roots of radicalisation. Factors such as unresolved grievances, unemployment, discrimination, social alienation and misinterpretation of religious teachings often push individuals towards extremist narratives.
Community-based grievance redress mechanisms, they said, can act as the first line of defence by addressing concerns before they escalate into resentment.
Experts proposed the creation of community-driven “Digital Peace Cells” comprising local clerics, teachers, youth leaders and psychologists to provide safe platforms for dialogue. These groups can offer counselling, guidance and social support to individuals showing early signs of vulnerability, thereby reducing the emotional and psychological gaps that extremist recruiters often exploit.
As reported earlier, the rise of online radicalisation poses serious challenges to India’s social harmony and internal security, particularly as extremist groups increasingly exploit social media platforms to spread propaganda, recruit members and incite division.
Analysts noted that radicalisation today no longer depends on physical contact or underground networks, as digital platforms have become powerful tools of persuasion.
Extremist recruiters, they said, now leverage social media algorithms, trending hashtags, encrypted messaging apps and short-form vide Experts have advocated strategic use of AI and community-based interventions to counter the growing digital threat.
The AI can play a crucial role not only as a surveillance mechanism but also as a preventive tool.
Predictive analytics can help identify behavioural shifts that may indicate early stages of radicalisation.
Such insights can enable early intervention through counselling and digital outreach rather than relying solely on punitive measures.
With over 800 million internet users and a predominantly young population, India faces unique vulnerabilities. Recruiters frequently design region-specific content in local languages to target individuals experiencing socio-economic stress or feelings of alienation. While social media has amplified extremist messaging, experts said the same platforms can also serve as effective counter-radicalisation tools if used responsibly and in coordination with government agencies and civil society organisations.
Community members are often the first to observe behavioural changes among youth, including withdrawal, secrecy or obsession with extremist narratives. Training local volunteers to recognise such warning signs can enable timely and compassionate intervention. Collaboration with credible religious scholars to promote authentic teachings of peace, tolerance and compassion can also help dismantle extremist distortions of faith. Mosques and madrasas, experts suggested, should incorporate digital literacy and online safety awareness into their educational programmes.
They further called for a decentralised reporting and counselling mechanism that allows communities to alert authorities without fear, fostering trust and transparency. Law enforcement agencies, in partnership with NGOs, should prioritise rehabilitation and reintegration, especially for first-time or vulnerable individuals.
At the policy level, experts said India’s cybersecurity framework must evolve beyond data protection to include what they termed “social security in cyberspace.” This would require closer coordination among intelligence agencies, cybersecurity experts and social media companies to monitor and disrupt online recruitment networks. Legal mechanisms such as the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, may also need strengthening to ensure platform accountability while safeguarding freedom of expression.
Experts concluded that online radicalisation is not merely a law-and-order issue but a complex socio-technical challenge that demands empathy, innovation and collective responsibility. While ethically guided AI can serve as an early warning system, the long-term solution, they said, lies in empowering communities, addressing grievances and reaffirming inclusive values that reject violence and promote coexistence. |