Stanford University study reveals pro-Indian Twitter drive
A pro-Indian army covers the influence operation on Twitter, suspended by the social network at the beginning of this year, widespread propaganda against the Pakistani army and tried to emphasize the alleged successes of the Indian army in Indian Kashmir, has demonstrated by a study by the University of Stanford.
“#Ispr has increased a #astonishing network of war specialists #Information highly qualified by 4000 copies in the last decade through a carefully manufactured internship program that is managed directly by #isi”, cites Stanford Internet Observatory Research, stated one of the accounts.
Standford Internet Observatory Tweeted: “It’s a BIG network (>1,000 accounts) that got decent engagement. Its goals included:
1. Promote the work of the Indian Army in India-occupied Kashmir
2. Target specific people perceived as enemies of the Indian government
3. Criticize Pakistan and China”
The network tweeted primarily in English, but also in Hindi and Urdu. Accounts claimed to be proud Kashmiris and relatives of Indian soldiers. Tweets praised the Indian Army’s military successes and provision of services in India-administered Kashmir and criticized the militaries of China and Pakistan. Two accounts existed to target specific individuals who were perceived as enemies of the Indian government.
The paper also notes that the content of the Twitter network is consistent with the Chinar Corps objectives, “praising the work of the Indian Army in India-occupied Kashmir” and that the official account of the corps, @ChinarcorpsIA is the seventh most mentioned or retweeted account in the network.
The study highlights two accounts in particular in the network that “existed to target reporters, activists, and politicians in this way”. The accounts — @KashmirTraitors and @KashmirTraitor1 — and an accompanying YouTube channel, “targeted specific individuals, focusing on what the account deemed ‘anti-India’ journalists, calling reporters ‘#whitecollarterrorist’, for example, saying that they were working to corrupt the minds of Kashmiris; and accusing them of taking money from Pakistan”.
The report further reports that the accounts targeted personalities, like American activist and author Pieter Friedrich, who is critical of the Indian government and Hindutva, and Fahad Shah — a currently incarcerated Indian journalist, who has also been critical of the BJP government.
What were their narratives?
According to the report, the narratives were patently anti-Pakistan and anti-China, with the report providing examples of how the network approached them. They highlighted protests in Pakistan, with a particular focus on Balochistan. One tweet said, “Students protesting in Islamabad against the inaccessibility of internet in #Balochistan.”
The report adds: “Accounts accused Pakistan of spreading unfounded claims of Indian army atrocities, and they accused Pakistani soldiers of committing human rights abuses and protecting terrorists. Tweets claimed Pakistan was not safe for Hindus nor Muslims, and that Pakistan abandoned Pakistani citizens in China when the Covid-19 pandemic began”.
Stanford University study reveals pro-Indian Twitter drive
With regard to the anti-China narrative, the report highlights how the network tried to portray the Indian military’s supposed dominance over the Chinese military. “Indian soldiers are courageous, while Chinese soldiers easily surrender. Indian soldiers were referred to as ‘Bravehearts,’ and soldiers killed in clashes with China were called heroes and martyrs. Any failed attacks on India’s part were due to unethical Chinese strategies, according to the network”/
