Facebook, WhatsApp not helping in terror probes: Intel agencies

NEW DELHI: A key security strategies meeting on Friday saw intelligence and law enforcement agencies raising concern over lack of cooperation from internet giants such as WhatsApp and Facebook in terror investigations.

According to sources, counter-terror strategy was the focus of deliberations on the second and final day of the annual national security strategies conference of all states, Union territories and central police organisations, organised by the Intelligence Bureau at its headquarters here. Rather than going into specifics of each counter-terror module, the discussion centred around defining strategies to combat terror and make successful investigations and prosecutions in terror cases.

The biggest stumbling block to terror investigations, it was agreed, remained foreign-based, encrypted messaging services like WhatsApp and Facebook that often sat on requests of Indian intelligence and law enforcement agencies for sharing messages exchanged between suspected terrorists and stored on their servers, in a readable format.

“This often tends to delay and even derail investigations,” said an officer who attended the conference.

A presentation was made on Left-wing extremism, followed by a panel discussion. While it was acknowledged that violence levels in LWE theatres had witnessed a significant decline, the panel of officers followed it up with a sobering discussion that stressed on remaining on full alert until the Maoist leadership was brought to its knees.

An officer from UP spoke about emerging threats on the counter-terror landscape, especially in eastern parts of India. Radicalisation drives by Bangladesh-based outfits like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh in madrasas of West Bengal and Assam have emerged as a major security concern, with the direct role of JMB-affiliated operatives having emerged in an attempt to bomb the Bodh Gaya complex on January 19.

During the deliberations on Thursday, which centred on Kashmir, a panel chaired by home minister Rajnath Singh discussed the option of opening talks with the Hurriyat. While some officers supported the idea, an official told TOI that it was really for the Hurriyat to respond positively.