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to typed tweets with which all the sender had to do was send the completed tweet. Volunteers were instructed to send the tweets at a specific time in order to artificially brew a
Twitter storm with the sheer number of tweets from the WhatsApp and Telegram groups. Common BJP talking points were thus propagated aggressively across social media.
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Several 'toolkits' full of (inaccurate) information attacking China or Islam were shared, with instructions on how to present and disseminate the shared information. Sub groups were created where content was compiled and talking-points were generated about certain topics, and days were designated for
312:
A Telegram group of over 20,000 people was created who work 'in an organised fashion'. There was a 'Twitter Team' with 5000 members. Most of the volunteers joining these groups were male and had upper caste surnames. Topics were shared every week with documents full of 'sample tweets' -- hyperlinks
187:
BJP orchestrates online campaigns through its social media cell to intimidate perceived government critics. Sadhavi Khosla, a BJP cyber-volunteer in the BJP IT Cell said that the organisation disseminated misogyny, Islamophobia and hatred. The network of volunteers of BJP take instructions from BJP
308:
journalists) and its methodology. Mishra tweeted a Google forms link (which is still active and can be accessed from the original article) asking for details such as the name, mobile number and email-ID of the respondents, calling them to join the Hindu
Ecosystem. It also asked the respondents for
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The state IT cell has 25 members in the core team with Rai as its head. Each regional centre had 20 members and a team of 15 handled IT at each of the 92 districts. Seven member teams worked at the block levels. At the regional, district and
Assembly level, BJP had approximately 5,000 workers. A
242:
In
December 2020, Twitter took restrictive action against Amit Malviya, IT Cell in charge, and tagged his post as 'manipulated media'. This was the first time Twitter took restrictive action against an Indian political personality. Malviya had posted an edited video of an incident from
235:, a member of Parliament had raised the topic of online hate in Rajya Sabha, India's upper house. He had questioned why Narendra Modi followed cyber-bullies on social media, and said "We are mainstreaming hate". He also asked if
278:"Our aim was to capture the mind of the voter. To message them night and day. Whenever they look, they should see us, hear our message. (Humari rajniti thi ki chunav ke pehle voter ke dimag ko capture kar lo. Subeh
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the generation of content on specific days to propagate online. PDF files running into hundreds of pages full of posts were used as social media posts to drown out dissenting opinions.
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would issue advisory asking government officials to stop following
Twitter users that regularly send abusive messages and obscenities. The government did not respond to this request.
223:. Modi supporters bombarded the company with orders and later cancelled them, resulting in the company distancing itself from Khan, though a planned boycott of his film at the time,
219:(BJP) Modi government. Khosla said that BJP responded with an online campaigns through its social media cell to intimidate Khan. Khan at the time was a spokesperson for
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309:'Any Special area of interest (sic)' such as 'Gauraksha, Gauseva, Fight Love Jihad, Ghar Wapasi, Halal, Mandir Nirmal, Hindu Ekta, Sewa in general etc (sic).'
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617:"How BJP's IT Cell Waged War And Won In UP: With enormous stores of data and thousands of WhatsApp groups, the BJP cell waged a smartphone war in UP"
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IT Cell and two affiliated organisations to troll users who are critical of BJP. Journalists and Indian film actors are also among their targets.
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separate team of 20 professionals – including technicians, designers, and cartoonists – created the desired content for the party.
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254:, 150,000 social media workers spread posts aimed at exploiting the fears of India’s Hindu majority across a vast network of
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was the first political party in India to acknowledge and use the power of social media in mobilising public opinion. The
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Another 2021 article describes the "Hindu
Ecosystem" (as described by Kapil Mishra whose group was infiltrated by
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reported that Amit
Malviya, the head of the IT Cell, admitted that the NaMo TV channel was run by the IT Cell.
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JPS Rathore, a member of the UP-BJP's IT Cell described the motives of the organisation as follows:
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340:"BJP turns focus on UP IT cell, lays out strategy to boost social media presence for polls"
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570:"Aamir Khan took on religious intolerance, and Snapdeal got caught in the crossfire"
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441:"For the First Time in India, Twitter Flags BJP IT Cell's 'Manipulated Media'"
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635:"BJP owns up NaMo TV, Delhi poll officer says content is not 'advertisement'"
140:, 150,000 social media workers spread posts aimed at exploiting the fears of
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that violated
Twitter policy towards fighting the spread of doctored media.
215:, and the absence of swift or strong condemnation from the country's ruling
366:"BJP's IT cell works behind doors for its candidates who are on the front"
596:"Inside the vast digital campaign by Hindu nationalists to inflame India"
467:"Inside the vast digital campaign by Hindu nationalists to inflame India"
413:"I am a troll: Inside the secret world of the BJP's digital army- Review"
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All Union
Territories Bharatiya Janata Party Information Technology Cell
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I am a troll : inside the secret world of the BJP's digital army
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that manages social media campaigns for the party and its members.
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519:"The Intolerant Response to Aamir Khan's Intolerance Comments"
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All States
Bharatiya Janata Party Information Technology Cell
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662:""Hate factory: Inside Kapil Mishra's 'Hindu Ecosystem'""
265:, revealed the organisational structure of the IT Cell:
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in response to political events in India that included
545:"Bollywood Star Aamir Khan Faces Religious Backlash"
261:An investigation by a publicly funded news agency,
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660:Thakur, Shambhavi; S, Meghnad (15 February 2021).
22:Bharatiya Janata Party Information Technology Cell
32:) is a department of the Indian political party
40:has been in charge of BJP IT Cell from 2015.
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179:waited until 2015 to come on the platform.
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229:, by BJP supporters proved unsuccessful.
201:concern about rising intolerance in India
108:Parent of the Information Technology Cell
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696:. New Delhi: Juggernaut. p. 192.
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163:account for Senior BJP leader and PM
7:
719:"'I Am a Troll' by Swati Chaturvedi"
492:"'I Am a Troll' by Swati Chaturvedi"
171:) was created in 2009, while senior
46:Information Technology Cell overview
517:Sugden, Joanna (24 November 2015).
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753:Anti-Christian sentiment in India
245:2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest
77:National IT Cell Head responsible
615:Bhardwaj, Amit (17 March 2017).
16:BJP Information Technology Cell
94:State IT Cell Head responsible
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758:Anti-Islam sentiment in India
72:5000/5500–6000 approximately
54:Information Technology Cell
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690:Chaturvedi, Swati (2016).
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144:across a vast network of
100:All States BJP Conveners
763:Disinformation in India
748:Bharatiya Janata Party
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217:Bharatiya Janata Party
157:Bharatiya Janata Party
142:India’s Hindu majority
112:Bharatiya Janata Party
773:Islamophobia in India
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191:In November 2015, an
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473:. 27 September 2023.
601:The Washington Post
294:humari baat sune)”
290:humara chehra dekhe
282:shaam message bhejo
237:Modi administration
86:, National Convener
24:(commonly known as
768:Fake news in India
725:. 20 February 2017
639:The Indian Express
576:. 25 November 2015
498:. 20 February 2017
417:Free Press Journal
372:. 10 December 2021
370:The Indian Express
299:The Indian Express
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447:. 2 December 2020
392:"BJP Departments"
346:. 21 October 2021
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666:Newslaundry
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621:Newslaundry
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306:Newslaundry
263:Newslaundry
26:BJP IT Cell
742:Categories
729:10 October
709:10 October
502:10 October
451:10 October
422:10 October
321:References
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197:Aamir Khan
523:WSJ Blogs
397:6 January
376:6 January
350:6 January
326:Citations
286:Jab dekhe
69:Employees
549:time.com
445:The Wire
344:ThePrint
258:groups.
256:WhatsApp
221:Snapdeal
207:against
173:Congress
209:Muslims
183:Methods
175:leader
161:Twitter
152:History
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574:Quartz
226:Dangal
195:actor
167:(then
63:India
731:2022
711:2022
698:ISBN
673:2024
647:2024
582:2015
556:2015
530:2015
504:2022
453:2022
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