Following Operation Sindoor, India's Press Information Bureau (PIB) intensified efforts to counter misinformation/disinformation spread through social media.
- Disinformation is deliberate creation and spread of false and/or misleading content. While misinformation is the inadvertent spread of such content.
What is Psychological warfare (PSYWAR)?
- It is the planned tactical use of propaganda, threats, and other non-combat techniques during wars or periods of geopolitical unrest to mislead, intimidate and demoralize enemy.
- E.g. Distribution of pamphlets or flyers encouraging the enemy to surrender or Using social media to spread fabricated or misleading information to influence public opinion.
- Objective: To weaken the resolve, unity and effectiveness of opposing forces without engaging in direct combat.
- Three categories of PSYWAR Propaganda
- White propaganda: Information is truthful and only moderately biased.
- Grey propaganda: Information is mostly truthful and contains no information that can be disproven.
- Black propaganda: Information is fake and is attributed to false sources.
Implications of Psychological Warfare:
- Undermines Public Trust: E.g. Fake narratives sowing doubt about official reports.
- Ensures Military Success: E.g. Leaflet campaigns encouraging surrender.
- Polarization and Panic: Disinformation inflames societal divisions and hinders coherent national responses.
