Information Operations and Social Media: Case Study of Indian Chronicles and Options for Pakistan

Abstract

In the era of digital media, states have resorted to social media to pursue several agendas. In this regard, this paper sheds light on the evolving strategies of intelligence, surveillance and Information Operations (IO) conducted through social media sites. The paper examines various strategies of IO mentioned in U.S. military documents encompassing Military Deception (MILDEC), Computer Network Operations (CNO), Operations Security (OPSSEC), and Psychological Operations (PsyOps). The paper specifically evaluated the role of social media in PsyOps and coined the term Social Media PsyOps (SMPsyOps). It analyses how the Indian government employed these tactics to conduct IO against Pakistan unveiled in the Indian Chronicles by EU DisinfoLab. The paper argues that social media has become an open source of intelligence for conducting of IO by India and influencing opinions and perceptions of Pakistan in Western capitals. This has impacted Pakistan and therefore the paper recommends measures for the government of Pakistan on how to counter the growing Indian network of IO.