SOCIAL MEDIA AND IDENTITY THEFT: AN EMERGING GLOBAL PANDEMIC

AUTHOR – LUV KUMAR* & AKSHAY KUMAR**

* STUDENT AT LAW COLLEGE DEHRADUN, FACULTY OF UTTARANCHAL UNIVERSITY. EMAIL – SINGHSLUV689@GMAIL.COM

** ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT LAW COLLEGE DEHRADUN, FACULTY OF UTTARANCHAL UNIVERSITY. EMAIL – AKSHAYKUMAR@UUMAIL.COM

BEST CITATION – LUV KUMAR & AKSHAY KUMAR, SOCIAL MEDIA AND IDENTITY THEFT: AN EMERGING GLOBAL PANDEMIC, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (4) OF 2025, PG. 1121-1129, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

“Identity theft represents a widespread issue that has garnered significant attention in both scholarly research and media coverage.  The implementation of neoliberal economic policies, coupled with the adaptation of technology that has become ubiquitous across various industries, is contributing to a significant and rapid transformation in individuals’ perspectives.  The value of information technology has exhibited a consistent upward trajectory, notwithstanding the variability in outcomes observed across different contexts.  The recent advancements and expansion of the nation’s information technology infrastructure have contributed to the increasing prevalence of identity theft.  Identity theft is characterised by its focus on personal information, which substantiates this assertion.  Social media identity theft occurs when an individual establishes a fraudulent social media profile under the name of another person, utilising their images and personal information without consent.  The nature of the conduct, whether executed humorously or with the intention to mislead, yields adverse implications for the individual responsible for the action.  This form of theft is perpetrated by con artists for a variety of reasons, which can be analysed to understand the underlying motivations and mechanisms involved in such fraudulent activities.  This study aims to investigate the various forms of identity theft that can occur in India, alongside an analysis of the current legislative framework designed to combat and prevent these criminal activities.”

Keywords: Identity Theft, Phishing, Hacking, Information Technology, Social Media