India has proof of social media platforms using crowdfunding to back terror, says anti-terrorism agency chief

In a sensational revelation, Dipankar Gupta, director general of India's elite National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday (17) said the country has evidence that social media platforms are using crowdfunding measures to support terror activities.

According to a report by The Hindu news website, the anti-terror agency's chief said the misuse of social media platforms was an issue that needed to be raised at the third 'No Money for Terror' conference which will begin in New Delhi on Friday (18) and continue till Saturday (19).

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event while home minister Amit Shah will be present.

Gupta, who shared details of the conference in which representatives of nearly 80 countries will participate, said Pakistan and Afghanistan were not among the attendees while China was yet to confirm its participation.

On Tuesday (15), The Hindu said in another report that the use of crowdfunding platforms to finance terror activities and weak control mechanisms of social media platforms were among the four major agendas that the conference has planned to discuss.

The third edition of the conference will build on gains made from the previous two that were held in Paris, France, in 2018, and Melbourne, Australia, in 2019, and work towards improving global cooperation to ensure that terrorists are denied finances.

“Terrorism is an important topic for India. Almost all countries will get an opportunity to present their points. There will be no limitations,” Gupta said, adding that the number of terror incidents in all areas has seen a considerable reduction.

When asked whether Pakistan’s role in sponsoring terror in India would be addressed at the two-day event, the NIA chief said discussions would not revolve around a particular country but all the sources from where a threat is coming.