Social media crimes in India nearly tripled since 2020

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reported a significant rise in social media-related crimes over the past five years. Data shared in Lok Sabha indicates that incidents have nearly tripled, moving from 56,283 in 2020 to 156,938 in 2024. This showcases the increasing challenges for digital safety in India. The data shows sharp increases in various types of cybercrimes. For example, fake or impersonating profiles jumped by 224%, from 12,310 cases in 2020 to 39,846 in 2024. Profile hacking and identity theft surged by 267%, increasing from 10,419 to 38,295 cases. Additionally, cases of cyber bullying and stalking tripled, rising from 11,641 to 39,077. Other crimes have also seen notable increases. Cheating by impersonation doubled from 9,808 cases in 2020 to 19,989 in 2024. Online job fraud increased from 4,973 to 10,461 cases, reflecting a rise in employment-related scams. In response to this spike in cybercrime, the government has enhanced efforts to combat these issues. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has improved law enforcement capabilities through AI-driven tracking and monitoring. They are also promoting digital literacy and awareness campaigns. The MHA has set up cyber forensic laboratories in 33 states and union territories to support these initiatives.