Spying for Pakistan: Unregulated social media platforms have become a big threat to the internal security of the nation; Jyoti Malhotra’s case is an eye-opener

Spying for Pakistan: Unregulated social media platforms have become a big threat to the internal security of the nation; Jyoti Malhotra’s case is an eye-opener

SALIL RAINA

(POONCH TODAY NEWS)

POONCH: The episode of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was booked by the security agencies for sharing sensitive information with Pakistani agencies and is under investigation, has started a big debate in the country about the growing unregulated social media platforms that have demolished the credibility of the elite field of journalism. Jyoti Malhota, 33, who was accused of working for ISI along with her team members, has forced the security agencies to start an in-depth investigation into the whole issue.

It has been seen that many YouTubers are making videos of some sensitive locations that have the capability to reach out to the enemy nation, but the union government has not taken this issue into account from an internal security point of view. But the latest issue of Jyoti Malhotra, who runs a YouTube channel and reportedly visited Pakistan and other countries, has shaken the intelligence agencies, and this issue has landed many YouTubers and unregulated social media journalists under the radar of the intelligence agencies, who reportedly have started a detailed investigation into their workings. It is important to mention here that for print and electronic media, there is a proper procedure and rules from the government of India, but for making a social media channel, nothing is required, as these platforms are not under any law of the country. Due to this loophole, in every street and mohalla, one can find these social media journalists, which has become a big threat from an internal security point of view. These unprofessional people have managed their entry into sensitive security locations of the police, army, and important offices of the local administrations across the country without any check from the government. A large number of people with unknown credentials have started joining social media journalism and are seen running a particular narrative against the country, which ultimately suits Pakistan. They are also seen visiting sensitive locations and making videos, and this will ultimately help the enemy countries. Who knows which social media journalist or YouTuber is working for which anti-national agency? Many YouTubers are projecting themselves as journalists and are seen building relations with police, the army, and local administration, and due to this lack of knowledge of media on the part of police, local administration, and the army, leaking of information of vital importance cannot be ruled out. The biggest shocking factor is the officials of the army, police, and civil administration across the country are unable to distinguish between real and fake journalism, and as a result, the issue of security compromise cannot be ruled out. The episode of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was booked for espionage, has sent a shock wave across the nation. The possibility of more YouTubers and social media influencers working for Pakistan cannot be ruled out, and in this context, the intelligence agencies reportedly have started a detailed investigation of all such social media individuals who run unregulated media platforms. Senior journalists who are working for various newspapers and national news channels said that the credibility of social media journalism has decreased a lot, and now people have recognized that social media journalism cannot match the credibility of print and electronic media, and when such a case of espionage on the part of YouTubers comes to the notice of the nation, then it is certain that the audience will lose interest in social media journalism and opt for traditional print and electronic media. But only professionally qualified people in journalism can play a big part in social media journalism, and not others who are not legally qualified to be journalists. As there is no check on social media journalism, the YouTubers have started visiting sensitive locations of the country, and it started a big debate on the government’s failure to bring in laws to regulate this social media journalism, because in the absence of any proper procedure and check, a number of tainted people have become social media journalists, thereby playing with the security of the nation by falling into the hands of the enemies of the nation. The government of India needs to start a tehsil-wise/district-wise/state-wise investigation into the mushrooming growth of unregulated social media journalism by unprofessional people, and if a proper investigation is carried out, many shocking revelations will be made from an internal security point of view, as there are strong reports that hundreds and thousands of anti-nationals backed by enemies of the Bharat have managed their entries into the media field by running unregulated social media journalism. The case of Jyoti Malhota, reportedly working against the nation, is not a normal one, as many social media journalists were seen visiting foreign countries in the past, and their credentials also need to be investigated. At a time when social media journalism is facing a credibility crisis, it’s time for the union government to strike the iron while it is hot by exposing and punishing the anti-nationals on the social media platforms to restore the people’s faith in the institution of the press and to strengthen the internal security.