The political landscape is heating up, and this time, the battleground isn’t just rallies and speeches, but the digital realm. The BJP has leveled serious accusations against the Congress, alleging the use of social media accounts operating from outside India to manipulate domestic political narratives.
BJP MP Sambit Patra is leading the charge, pointing to X’s location-tracking features as evidence. He claims several Congress-linked accounts, including those of prominent leaders and influencers, appear to be originating from countries like the US, Ireland, and even Pakistan. The accusation? These accounts are strategically pushing specific narratives against the current government.
This raises some critical questions for us tech enthusiasts: How reliable *is* X’s location data? Can VPNs and other masking techniques easily fool it? And, more importantly, what are the ethical implications of using potentially foreign-based accounts to influence Indian voters?
The BJP’s claims highlight the increasing sophistication of digital campaigning. It’s no longer just about likes and shares; it’s about strategically shaping the conversation through targeted messaging, potentially amplified by accounts designed to appear organic but operating outside the jurisdiction of Indian laws.
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Is this a legitimate concern about foreign interference, or a political tactic to discredit the opposition? The debate is sure to intensify in the coming weeks.
Source: NDTV
Link: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-accuses-congress-of-using-social-media-accounts-based-abroad-to-shape-narrative-5448303