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1 September 2014

The WhatsApp Soldier

By Ganapathy Vanchinathan 
August 28, 2014 

The army has been in the news over the last fortnight, and again for all the wrong reasons. These include an incident regarding the functioning of the Army Wives Welfare Association, and a few instances where the behaviour of senior officers was brought into question. This article is not to debate whether these reports are true or false or analyse the extent of truth or falsehood in them. It is fair to assume the Indian Army is well in control of the events and all necessary actions are being taken to ensure logical culmination of these cases. Of that there can be no doubt. But does that mean all is hunky dory. No, not really.

Consider these two news reports. One in a local Israeli newspaper on 21 July 2014 which said – “Soldiers' Families Learn Sons were Killed through WhatsApp”. The family members of one of the 13 soldiers of the Golani Brigade killed during Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) Operation Defensive Edge in the Gaza Strip on 20 July 2014, learned about his death from a WhatsApp message, before any official notification of his death was issued by the IDF. Another WhatsApp message mentioned the name of a Golani Brigade officer as dead, while in fact he was hospitalised in serious condition. The second one – “Army Cracks the Whip after Internal Message Lands on WhatsApp”. This report refers to sharing of an official message by a military formation in Kashmir Valley purportedly to speedily disseminate a message to coordinate ceremonial last rites of Late Major Mukund Varadarajan, AC and Late Sepoy Vikram Singh, SC who had died in an operation in Kashmir on 25 April 2014. Whether intended or otherwise the message also reached a senior officer in the Army HQ which sent alarm bells ringing and directives were reportedly issued to army units instructing them to refrain from sharing classified communications on social media.

While there will always be a strong desire to receive and share real-time information, it is undeniable that adhoc and arbitrary circulation of these messages containing such news, especially if uncorroborated and exaggerated, may lead to irrevocable damage to those who are related to the subject of such messages. Lives may be ruined and reputations can be mud, all in a matter of seconds. It is another matter that on 23 July 2014, the Israeli Military Police arrested three soldiers and a civilian on suspicion of spreading military information and false information using WhatsApp. Such misunderstandings due to messages or rumours spreads either unwittingly, or very well as part of a mischief will lead to loss of faith and trust within the organisation, with those at stake not being given a chance to defend themselves. Such messages may also unwittingly (or intentionally) compromise security. In fact, what one does not know is happening with the information being shared in such a platform is a far bigger risk than what one knows is surely happening.

The social media, in its various avatars – the internet e-mail, Facebook, and the various chat services, gives the user an ability to communicate with larger audiences in the shortest time in new and non-traditional ways. News can be accessed on fingertips, literally, using the smartphone – you will still be able to access news even if there is no newspaper at your doorstep or no TV. Neither do you necessarily have to boot the computer or listen to FM radio while driving to get the latest picture. Soldiers of the Indian Army, 12 lakh and more, and their next of kin can only be expected to absorb these new technologies to communicate and exchange news and gossip with each other and amongst the various informal groups that they have formed. Even a few months ago, one needed to focus on the ticker of the news channel or receive a phone call which would be the grapevine for such news. These days it is the WhatsApp which is the fastest method of spreading news (or rumours as the case may be). WhatsApp Messenger is nothing but a proprietary, cross-platform instant messaging subscription service for smartphones and other selected feature phones that uses the internet for communication. In addition to text messaging, users can send each other images, video, and audio media messages as well as their location using integrated mapping features.In the words of Claus Mortensen, director of International Data Corporation Asia Pacific, a leading provider of data-driven research and analysis in the region. "The likes of WhatsApp, WeChat, Kakao Talk and Line - are the future of social networking – the next breed of social networks, especially in emerging Asia where the use of social networks is highly mobile."

The social media is here to stay and it will continue to metamorphose in ways we are yet to imagine, all geared towards easy and speedier ways of communicating. To expect that those who serve in the army can be isolated from its effects is turning a blind eye to reality. It would be pragmatic to accept the benefits and modify our system to exploit the best reach of such growth while also at the same time work out methods to minimize or keep away its undesirable effects.

The existing policy on use of social media applications like use of email in the internet domain, Facebook and other such social media applications does permit the member of the Indian Army to use these applications, albeit with reasonable restrictions. The rules spell out that reference to military linkages should be avoided - military ranks, course or batch numbers, any formal or informal military grouping or such identities, names and numbers of their regiments or battalions- anything that may connect the user to his/her military origins. Posting of information or photographs related to their service is also not permitted. All in all the stipulations seem very realistic and appear to be aimed at preventing users from revealing their identity as military personnel/organisation thus preventing any cyber-attacks by inimical neighbour(s) or entity(s). And, over time, it appears from inputs from the environment, that the average military user has accepted these stipulations and functions within the norms laid down, barring the odd expected percentage of deviation, some of which can be isolated by the organisation by routine monitoring. It must also be said that the Indian Army has done well to become part of the Facebook and Twitter users (all in the last two years) with a number of positive benefits. 

The advent of WhatsApp, WeChat and the likes has, however, added a new dimension towards this unquenchable human thirst for exchanging information, thus posing new challenges. The infrastructure required is minimum, available to more users and the time required to share the information is just a click away. While there is that miniscule percentage of useful information doing the rounds via WhatsApp, most information shared, particularly by those in uniform, is pretty much pedestrian, bordering on the juvenile and semi-pornographic with really no benefit to anyone. It may not be fair to stand on judgment on what one chooses to share as information, as long as the information is absolutely free from security implications and will not lead to adverse impact on the organisation and those who serve as part of the organisation. However, herein lies the threat both to the individual and the organisation – the unintentional loss of information, passage of rumour or compromise of security.

It is time the organisation took stock of the situation holistically, not only from the security point of view. It is very likely that much of such trivia defence news, nonetheless with harmful potential, is published by the media based on information from such shared messages. Does the army therefore need a secure dedicated unclassified platform for its military fraternity to share their thoughts? Such a platform can also be used by the organisation to speedily and legitimately address its members as well as the media, thus calling the bluff of uncorroborated messages. Such issues need examination, to legitimise use as well as address the issue of security. The Army with all its infrastructure and capability could perhaps work towards creating such a platform to unite the entire army, validate such information and messages and beat ‘unofficial sources’.

Till then, military users of such platforms would do well to realise that it does not require the regime to issue special instructions with respect to security each time a new technological platform or application is doing the round. Such consciousness should be inbuilt and transferred continuously from the senior to the junior till it becomes second nature. The user should always be invested with the responsibility in exercising his or her discretion while choosing to use such applications and more so while choosing what kind of information he/she is sharing and with whom.

Views expressed are personal. 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/social/Army-not-yet-ready-for-loosening-controls-on-social-media-Top-brass/articleshow/34507922.cms 

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-army-cracks-the-whip-after-internal-message-lands-on-whatsapp-1986408 


http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/IDF-arrests-soldiers-after-WhatsApp-leaks-about-fatalities-in-Gaza-op-368645 

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-commanders-not-happy-with-army-decision-to-shun-social-media-1992488 

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-army-social-media-twitter-facebook-general-bikram-singh/1/368394.html 

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4547394,00.html 

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-army-social-media-twitter-facebook-general-bikram-singh/1/368394.html 

http://tech.firstpost.com/news-analysis/indian-army-fears-wechat-used-snoop-personnel-216867.html 

http://www.fedtechmagazine.com/article/2013/02/army-takes-proactive-stance-social-media-2013-handbook 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp 

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