India: Ignore Conspiracy Theories, But Build Our Own Social Media Platform
A National Security Perspective
India should not make national security decisions based on conspiracy theories. We do not need to assume that every protest, every social movement, or every online campaign is controlled by a foreign country. Some allegations may later prove true, while others may not.
But governments cannot build security policy on assumptions.
They must build it on risk.
The question is therefore not whether foreign powers are interfering today.
The real question is:
If a foreign country wanted to influence India tomorrow, how easy would it be?
From this perspective, India faces unique challenges.
India Has an Unusually Large Security Challenge
India has more than 1.4 billion people.
It has one of the world's youngest populations.
Hundreds of millions of Indians use smartphones and social media every day.
India also shares long borders with Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar. Some of these regions have experienced terrorism, insurgency, illegal migration, smuggling and cross-border radicalisation.
India is also a highly diverse nation.
We have many religions, languages, cultures and political opinions.
This diversity is one of India's greatest strengths.
However, it also means that small misunderstandings can sometimes grow into larger conflicts if misinformation spreads rapidly.
This makes India a country where information itself becomes a matter of national security.
Social Media Changes the Scale
Before social media, spreading misinformation across India was slow and expensive.
Today, one message can reach millions of people within minutes.
Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube and X are remarkable technologies that have helped businesses, education and communication.
But they also have another side.
They allow information to spread extremely quickly, whether that information is true or false.
A rumour can travel across the country before the government even knows it exists.
Videos can be edited.
Images can be manipulated.
Artificial intelligence can create convincing fake speeches.
These technologies are becoming more powerful every year.
The Problem Is Not the Companies
This is not an argument against Meta, Google or any other company.
These companies have built extraordinary products.
The real issue is that they are foreign companies.
Their headquarters are outside India.
Their algorithms are designed outside India.
Their legal responsibilities are primarily governed by foreign jurisdictions.
During a national emergency, India may require immediate action.
A foreign company may need legal review, international consultation or approval from another country before responding.
Even a delay of a few hours can matter during riots, terrorist attacks or large-scale misinformation campaigns.
National security should never depend entirely on decisions taken outside India.
Data Is a Strategic Asset
In the twenty-first century, data has become as valuable as oil.
Every day, social media platforms collect enormous amounts of information.
They know what people read.
They know what people watch.
They know where people travel.
They know whom people communicate with.
They know people's interests, fears and opinions.
When this information belongs mainly to foreign companies, India loses an important strategic asset.
Countries protect their borders.
Countries protect their airspace.
Countries protect their ports.
Increasingly, countries must also protect their digital infrastructure.
Every Major Power Protects Strategic Technologies
The United States protects many of its strategic technologies.
China has built its own digital ecosystem.
Russia has developed domestic alternatives in several sectors.
Europe is investing heavily in digital sovereignty.
India has become a global leader in software and digital payments.
Our Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is admired around the world.
India has shown that it can build world-class digital infrastructure.
There is no reason India cannot also develop a world-class social media platform.
An Indian Platform Does Not Mean Isolation
Some people may worry that an Indian platform would isolate the country.
It does not have to.
India does not need to ban international platforms.
India does not need to copy China's model.
Instead, India should build a strong Indian alternative.
If Indian citizens voluntarily choose an Indian platform because it is secure, innovative and trustworthy, India gains greater digital independence without reducing personal freedom.
Competition encourages innovation.
Having an Indian platform also reduces dependence on a small number of foreign companies.
National Security Is About Preparation
Many people buy health insurance even though they never become seriously ill.
Countries do something similar.
They prepare before a crisis happens.
We build armies before wars.
We build flood barriers before floods.
We build fire stations before fires.
Similarly, India should build its own secure social media infrastructure before a future digital crisis occurs.
Waiting until a major national emergency would be too late.
Safeguards Are Essential
An Indian social media platform should never become a tool for unnecessary surveillance or censorship.
Strong legal safeguards must protect citizens.
Independent judicial oversight should exist.
Privacy laws should be robust.
Transparency should be mandatory.
Freedom of expression should remain protected.
National security and individual liberty must both be respected.
A democracy should always protect both.
Conclusion
This proposal is not based on conspiracy theories.
It does not claim that foreign companies are acting against India.
Instead, it follows a simple principle.
Critical national infrastructure should, wherever possible, remain under national control.
India already builds its own roads.
India builds its own satellites.
India builds its own payment systems.
India builds its own defence equipment.
The next strategic frontier is digital infrastructure.
Social media is no longer only about sharing photographs or chatting with friends.
It shapes public opinion.
It influences elections.
It affects markets.
It can influence national security.
For a nation of more than 1.4 billion people, with complex borders and extraordinary diversity, digital sovereignty is no longer a luxury.
It is becoming a strategic necessity.
India should not fear the world.
India should continue to work with global technology companies.
But at the same time, India should also build and strengthen its own secure, trusted and globally competitive social media platform.
That would not be an act of isolation.
It would be an act of national preparedness.
Dr Arun Maji, Kargil War Veteran, Former Senior Medical Advisor to the ADF (SA & NT)
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