CAPF: Effects of Media Publicity on Terrorism

Effects of Media Publicity on Terrorism


No one can forget the 2007 attacks in Mumbai, whose memories still haunt every now and then. In those terror attacks media played important role both for the people and for the terrorists themselves. In order to increase TRP and provide sensational coverage, media provide important information regarding moves and positions of security personal to terrorist, who were getting live feed from TV reporting. Sensing this, govt. immediately asked news channels to add delay in reporting.  This was an event where media indirectly helped terrorist.

On the other hand, terrorist are able to expand and publicize their group with the help of social media. Since, social media is free platform and message can be spread in short span of time, terrorist nowadays are taking route of social media to influence people in succeeding their goals and spread their message. They look forward for “easy to influence” people on social platform like whatassp, facebook, twitter, etc. For finding the correct person, they look for people with anti-nationalist tendencies and opinions, then they influence them on name of job, money or work in the name of their own god.
Terrorist have time and again used free media of democratic countries as a tool to threaten the population. Although, terrorist have not succeeded in uprooting the govt. but have succeed in installing feeling of insecurity among the people of country through news of mass killing, or posting videos of lynching people.

Its well said that politics divide and terrorism unites people.  It holds true to some extent. This is the reason why, India is pitching its voice high against terrorism in every international forum. After every terrorist act, one can see people showing their condemnation and discontent on social, print and electronic media.  Thus, media on one hand used as tool by terrorist to spread their agenda and on the other hand publicizes the zeal of humans by showing life comes on track after every terrorist act.

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