The Indian Army has issued an internal letter on use of social media applications by its personnel, with an emphasis on operational security and responsible online behaviour. Sources in the Indian Army said that Army personnel have been allowed to access Instagram only for the purposes of viewing and monitoring. They clarified that no comments or views are to be communicated on the platform. It added that for applications such as Skype, WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal, the exchange of unclassified information of a general nature has been permitted. The sources also added that such communication must be restricted to known persons, and the responsibility for correctly identifying the recipient will rest with the user.
It further added that in the case of platforms like YouTube, X, formerly Twitter, Quora and Instagram, only passive participation to obtain information or knowledge has been allowed. Uploading of any user-generated content, messages or posts on these platforms has been prohibited. Additionally, the sources said that LinkedIn may be used only for uploading resumes and for obtaining information related to potential employers or employees.
