Online hate in India is no longer random abuse, It is an organised industry.
From troll factories to coordinated smear campaigns, hate has become a tool to silence, intimidate, and influence.
How this ecosystem operates:
1. Organised Troll Factories
• These are not random users. Groups of people are recruited—sometimes even hired in shifts—to run multiple fake accounts at once.
• They are given a “target list” (journalists, women leaders, activists, or anyone speaking against a narrative).
• Each person controls dozens of accounts, amplifying abusive comments to flood timelines.
• Payments or incentives are sometimes linked to engagement metrics like trending a hashtag or volume of abusive replies.
2. Paid Hate Campaigns
• Agencies or individuals run “online reputation management” services where clients can pay to attack opponents.
• Hashtags are pushed with mass abusive content until they trend.
• Screenshots, fake quotes, and altered media are created to appear credible.
• Such campaigns have been documented to run during elections or against specific movements.
3. Bot Networks
• Automated accounts (bots) are programmed to like, retweet, or share hateful content within seconds of posting.
• A single message of hate, when amplified by hundreds of bots, looks like mass public opinion.
• These bots are often managed using software that can operate multiple accounts simultaneously.
4. Targeted Harassment of Individuals
• Victims receive thousands of mentions, DMs, and comments within hours.
• Abuse includes sexist slurs, caste-based insults, death or rape threats, and doctored photos.
• The intent is psychological: to overwhelm the target until they withdraw from the platform.
• Amnesty International’s “Toxic Twitter” report showed that women journalists in India face this in a sustained, organised way.
5. Hate + Disinformation Combination
• Hateful content is rarely standalone. It is often mixed with fake information.
• Example: a morphed photo is shared with abusive commentary; or a fake quote attributed to a target is spread with slurs.
• This dual strategy both discredits and intimidates.
6. Doxxing and Real-World Threats
• Personal data like addresses, phone numbers, or family details are leaked (“doxxed”) to increase fear.
• This connects online hate to offline threats, making it more dangerous than just trolling.
7. Commercialisation of Hate
• Some troll farms are monetised—earning money through YouTube ads, superchats, or subscriptions while running abusive content.
• Others are funded by political or business interests to attack rivals.
This shows that online hate is not just “angry individuals”—it is a coordinated ecosystem involving planning, technology, and sometimes financial incentives.
Real Cases:
• Amnesty International documented widespread coordinated abuse against women journalists in India, often linked to political or social campaigns.
• Investigations by BBC revealed how troll networks are organised in shifts, instructed on what hashtags to push and who to target. (BBC)
Why it matters:
• Hate is not harmless—it impacts mental health, destroys reputations, and discourages democratic participation.
• Organised harassment creates a chilling effect, where victims withdraw from online spaces to avoid relentless abuse.
• It weakens trust in digital platforms, damages the integrity of public debate, and leaves ordinary users unsafe.
• One is unable to form independent opinion in fear of being trolled
How to protect yourself and others:
• Document all abusive content (screenshots, links) before reporting.
• Use platform-level reporting tools to block, mute, and escalate harassment.
• Do not amplify hate by engaging—focus on reporting and supporting victims.
• Report criminal threats, stalking, or doxxing to cybercrime.gov.in.
Support those being attacked—public solidarity helps reduce the isolation of victims.
🔔Subscribe for more cyber safety insights!
👍 Like, share & comment to spread awareness!
Stay Aware, Stay Safe. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.
CONTACT US:
Website: www.AkanchaSrivastava.Org
Email: TeamAkancha@gmail.com
Twitter: @AkanchaS
Tweets by AkanchaS
Instagram: @akanchas
https://www.instagram.com/akanchas/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/akanchasrivastava1
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/akanchasrivastava/
ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’
The Akancha Srivastava Foundation is India’s leading social impact initiative dedicated to advancing cyber safety awareness and education. Established in February 2017, this not-for-profit Section 8 organization is a trusted voice in promoting safe online practices across the nation.
Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:
• Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
• ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
• ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
• Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)
Our Mission
The Foundation is committed to educating, empowering, and building bridges between the public and authorities on critical cyber safety issues. Additionally, we specialize in forensics training for law enforcement, equipping them with the skills needed to tackle cybercrime effectively.