The Indian government is planning to tighten noose on social media platforms in the insurgency hit areas like Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
The government is considering a ban on WhatsApp calling services and effectively blocking hostile content on platforms like Facebook to kill communication links between terrorists.
The issue was flagged in a high-level meeting presided by home secretary Rajiv Gauba in New Delhi on Monday.
The move assumes significance in the wake of recent disclosure where it was claimed that the alleged perpetrators of an army camp attack in J&K in 2016 sought directions from their associates from across the border through WhatsApp calls.
“Intelligence agencies have laid special emphasis on monitoring the social networking websites. Various groups are using different messaging services like WhatsApp or such tools to propagate online radicalization and propaganda that lead to disturb the law and order situation in the states specially Jammu & Kashmir”- Indian Home Ministry officials.
The calling feature available on WhatsApp has made it harder for security agencies to intercept communication between insurgents as WhatsApp calls and messages have an end-to-end encryption, making it difficult to decode the messages.
So what can be the possible solution?
Security expert based in Delhi, Mohit Bhargava believes that the most obvious solution is that the technology providers must keep a record of the encrypted communication for law enforcement purposes.
“They (service providers) must understand their moral responsibility towards the country. They should either have a backup or a sort of formula that security agencies can access to crackdown on terrorists and criminals”- Mohit Bhargava, Security expert
Mr Bhargava says the Indian government's plans are a step in the right direction but the road to implementation is long and full of bumps.
