NEW DELHI: The Indian Army has introduced a new social media policy restricting the use of popular platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and LinkedIn for its personnel.
According to the BBC, quoting the policy, army personnel can only view and monitor content on these platforms but are strictly prohibited from posting, commenting, liking, or sharing any material.
The defense authorities, as reported by the India’s Asian News International (ANI), have issued clear guidelines stating that messaging applications like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and Skype can only be used to share non-confidential or general information with known contacts.
Under the new policy, it is the responsibility of users to verify and ensure that they are interacting with authentic and verified accounts. Army personnel may access Instagram solely for observation and monitoring purposes without expressing opinions or engaging with posts in any form.
The policy, issued by the Directorate General of Military Intelligence (DGMI), aims to prevent cyber threats, misinformation, and the spread of sensitive information. Officials emphasized that while the policy limits digital activity, it also ensures strict cybersecurity measures are in place.
Social media platforms including X, Quora, and YouTube are to be used strictly for information access; personnel are prohibited from actively posting or reposting content. LinkedIn may be accessed for uploading resumes and gathering information about potential employers or job opportunities.
In a related development, the Indian Army recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT) to develop software and AI-based solutions for military applications. Students and faculty will assist in enhancing the capabilities of programs designed for the Indian Army.
