Social media platforms are being increasingly weaponised by terrorist organisations to radicalise individuals and orchestrate attacks across the Indian subcontinent and beyond, according to a report by Eurasia Review. The study highlights how digital propaganda, encrypted messaging, and online psychological manipulation are enabling extremist networks to recruit and mobilise vulnerable individuals.
The report, titled “Weaponisation of Social Media Platforms for Radicalisation: A Threat Looming Large in the Indian Subcontinent”, cites recent incidents including the Red Fort attack in India on November 10, 2025, and the Bondi Beach attack in Australia on December 14, 2025, as examples of how extremists exploit social media to incite violence. It notes that such attacks, often framed as lone-wolf incidents, are systematically designed and coordinated through online networks.
According to the study, terrorist organisations use fake news, propaganda, and narrative warfare to manipulate individuals in the name of religion, state, or extremist agendas. Modern groups are combining ideological strategies with digital technology, exploiting social media’s low cost, global reach, and fast dissemination capabilities to conduct recruitment campaigns and mobilise attacks. The report underscores that while social media acts as an enabler rather than the primary driver of terrorism, its role in contemporary extremist operations is significant.
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The report identifies the Islamic State and its affiliates as leading these online campaigns, expanding their ideological influence even after territorial losses in Iraq and Syria. Extremist networks are increasingly active in South Asia, with IS operations extending to India and Bangladesh, alongside Pakistan-based groups such as The Resistance Front and People’s Anti-Fascist Front, and organisations with roots in Bangladesh like Jamaat-e-Islami, reportedly supported by elements linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence.
Investigators cited in the report described the Red Fort attackers as radicalised online, terming the phenomenon “white-collar terrorism” due to the education level of many perpetrators. Encrypted platforms such as Threema, which feature end-to-end encryption and limited data retention, were reportedly used to evade forensic tracking. Similar cyber-enabled recruitment has been observed in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, connecting youths to extremist networks.
The report notes that governments across the region are responding with stricter regulations. Countries including Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia have enacted laws to counter online extremism, while India blocked 9,845 URLs promoting radicalisation in 2025 alone. It concludes that regional and global cooperation, strengthened cybersecurity frameworks, and enhanced intelligence sharing will be essential to counter cross-border digital radicalisation and online terror networks.
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