UPSC Mains 2024 GS3 Q20: model answer
Social media and encrypting messaging services pose a serious security challenge. What measures have been adopted at various levels to address the security implications of social media? Also suggest any other remedies to address the problem.
What the question wants
Threats from social media and encryption, existing measures and new remedies.
How to structure it
Intro: scale of social media use. Body: (1) security threats; (2) why encryption makes it harder; (3) legal and institutional measures; (4) platform and international measures; (5) other remedies. Conclusion: balance security and privacy.
- 1(1) security threats
- 2(2) why encryption makes it harder
- 3(3) legal and institutional measures
- 4(4) platform and international measures
- 5(5) other remedies
Model answer
India has over 80 crore internet users and WhatsApp alone has over 50 crore users here. Encryption protects privacy but also hides criminals.
Security challenges
- Radicalisation and recruitment by terror groups.
- Fake news and deepfakes sparking riots and lynchings (2018 child-lifting rumours).
- Cyber frauds, sextortion and drug and arms trade on encrypted apps.
- Foreign propaganda and influence operations; coordination of violence, as in Manipur.
- End-to-end encryption stops agencies from reading content.
Measures adopted
- Legal: IT Act, 2000 (Section 69A blocking); IT Rules, 2021 require grievance officers and tracing the first originator for significant messaging platforms (challenged in court); Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- Institutional: CERT-In, I4C, National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and helpline 1930; PIB Fact Check.
- State level: cyber police stations and social media monitoring cells.
- Platforms: forward limits on WhatsApp, fact-checkers, content takedown.
- International: Budapest-style cooperation talks, MLATs, the UN cybercrime convention (2024).
Other remedies
- Digital literacy for citizens to spot fake news.
- Metadata analysis and lawful access without breaking encryption.
- Quick takedown and AI tools to detect deepfakes.
- Data protection safeguards to prevent abuse of surveillance.
Security and privacy are both needed; the answer is targeted, lawful oversight and an alert citizenry.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
end-to-end encryption IT Rules 2021 traceability I4C digital literacy
Where most answers lose marks
- Proposing a ban on encryption.
Fresh examples from current affairs
Supreme Court: children have a right to the internet, and platforms must block child abuse material
In a judgment of 15 October 2026, the Supreme Court said that the right to access and use the internet is a fundamental right of every person, children included, under Article 21 read with Article 19(1)(a). So the answer to online danger is not to lock children out but to go after the abusive content and the platforms that fail to remove it. The Court ordered a National Hash and URL List Database, two-hour reporting of unknown abuse material, and loss of revenue for platforms that profit from it through paywalls.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Arts. 21 and 19(1)(a); POCSO s.15; IT Act ss.67B and 79; CSEAM. · Mains GS-II: rights of children, regulation of platforms.
18 Oct 2026
India backs ITU joint trials against cross-border telecom fraud; ASTR has cut 82 lakh fake connections
At an ITU roundtable during India Mobile Congress 2026, India welcomed ITU's proposal for joint trials to verify caller identity across borders. The MoS said C-DOT's ASTR tool has cut over 82 lakh fraudulent connections, Sanchar Saathi has about 25 million downloads, and the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator prevented suspected losses above ₹5,000 crore in 15 months.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ASTR, Sanchar Saathi, ITU. · Mains GS-III: cyber security.
9 Oct 2026
Sanchar Saathi crosses 30 crore visits; 14 lakh lost or stolen phones recovered
The Department of Telecommunications' Sanchar Saathi portal, launched in May 2023, has crossed 30 crore visits. It has blocked 60.96 lakh lost or stolen phones, traced 37.85 lakh and helped recover over 14 lakh. Citizen reports through Chakshu feed the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator, which has helped prevent suspected losses of over ₹5,000 crore.
UPSC angle: Prelims: tools and names. · Mains GS-III: cyber security; GS-II: e-governance.
5 Oct 2026
India’s first 5.56 km free-space quantum key distribution link demonstrated
QNu Labs, with BISAG-N and IIT Gandhinagar, demonstrated India's first free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) link over 5.56 km on the night of 27-28 September 2026. The quantum bit error rate stayed below 5 per cent and secure keys were made at 230-260 bps, then used with BISAG-N's Vedic Kavach post-quantum cryptography platform.
UPSC angle: Prelims: QKD vs post-quantum cryptography; free-space vs fibre.
3 Oct 2026Learn the concept
Question text as printed in the official UPSC question paper: https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/QP_CSM_2024_GenStud_III_03102024.pdf The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.