The New Threat of ‘Influencers’
A new class has emerged on social media – the ‘influencer’. However, after the Jyoti Malhotra episode, the dangers hidden behind this trend have become increasingly apparent. The allure of fame and money can make these i nfluencers easy targets for exploitation in anti-national activities. Recent incidents highlight just how real this threat is. .... On June 4 in Punjab, a YouTuber named Jasbir Singh was arrested. He was found to be in contact with Jyoti Malhotra, who was accused of spying for Pakistan, and similar charges were filed against him. Following the Pahalgam attack and "Operation Sindoor", security agencies launched a crackdown in Punjab and Haryana, arresting several YouTubers. Investigations are still ongoing, and a disturbing trend has emerged: social media influencers are being used for espionage. This poses a new challenge to national security—one that demands novel responses. Similar patterns have been observed in Europe and the U.S. as well. The fa...