DefinePK

Abstract

In the era of digital media, states have resorted to social media to pursue several agendas. In this regard, this paper focuses on the pivotal role of Social Media (SM) in the evolving strategies of intelligence, surveillance, and Information Operations (IO). The paper examines various strategies of IO mentioned in US military documents, encompassing Military Deception (MILDEC), Computer Network Operations (CNO), Operations Security (OPSSEC), and Psychological Operations (PsyOps). The paper specifically evaluated the role of SM 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 SM has become an open source of intelligence for conducting IO by India and influencing opinions and perceptions of Pakistan in Western capitals. This influence has had a significant impact on Pakistan, and therefore, the paper recommends urgent measures for the government of Pakistan on how to counter the growing Indian network of IO.