Social media campaigns pose new challenge to police: SVPNPA Director

SVPNPA Director Sujeet Pandey has identified propaganda and coordinated social media campaigns as emerging challenges for police. The academy is expanding training in information warfare, cybercrime, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency-related offences and other technologies used by criminal networks.

HYDERABAD: The changing dynamics of protests, with propaganda and social media increasingly being used to promote particular narratives and mobilise people, have emerged as a new challenge for the police, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) Director Sujeet Pandey said.

The changing nature of crime and the growing use of technology by criminal networks require police officers to constantly adapt to emerging challenges, he said. Social media platforms and coordinated online campaigns can influence public perception of incidents and protests, making it important for police officers to critically assess information, distinguish verified facts from misinformation and maintain public order while safeguarding citizens’ rights.

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The academy has incorporated training on information warfare, cybercrime, cryptocurrency-related offences, darknet activities and technology-enabled organised crime to familiarise probationers with the evolving security landscape. The training also covers AI, Machine Learning, cybersecurity, big data analytics and quantum technology.