Part 2/16:

The role of religion in Indian disinformation efforts is particularly troubling. Politically motivated propaganda weaponizes religious sentiments to target minorities, fostering division and violence. The volatile mixture of unchecked content, social media algorithms, and community skepticism fuels incidents like the communal riots in No in Haryana in August 2023. Fake messages, provocative videos, and inflammatory images spread rapidly over WhatsApp, inciting mobs and leaving destruction and loss of life in their wake. For example, false claims about a criminal wanted for murders triggered a mob attack, leading to fatalities and injuries, all fueled by fabricated content.