DIGITAL POLICING: USING SOCIAL MEDIA SURVEILLANCE TO TACKLE CYBERCRIME
AUTHOR – PRITHWISH GANGULI, ADVOCATE & LLM (CU), MA IN SOCIOLOGY (SRU), MA IN CRIMINOLOGY & FORENSIC SC (NALSAR), DIP IN PSYCHOLOGY (ALISON), DIP IN CYBER LAW (ASCL), DIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION & MARITIME LAW (ALISON) FACULTY, HERITAGE LAW COLLEGE, KOLKATA
EMAIL ID: PRITHWISHGANGULI@GMAIL.COM
BEST CITATION – PRITHWISH GANGULI, DIGITAL POLICING: USING SOCIAL MEDIA SURVEILLANCE TO TACKLE CYBERCRIME, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (1) OF 2025, PG. 324-334, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
ABSTRACT
In the age of digital transformation, cybercrime has evolved into a complex, borderless threat. Social media, once a platform for communication, has now become both a battleground and a tool for crime prevention. Digital policing through social media surveillance is an emerging strategy that enables law enforcement agencies to detect, prevent, and combat cyber threats in real-time. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data analytics, authorities can track suspicious activities, identify cybercriminals, and mitigate risks before crimes escalate.
Social media platforms harbour various forms of cybercrime, including fraud, identity theft, human trafficking, hate speech, cyberterrorism, and misinformation campaigns. By analysing digital footprints, monitoring flagged content, and deploying automated tracking mechanisms, law enforcement agencies can efficiently respond to threats. Predictive policing, fuelled by big data analytics, further enhances crime prevention by identifying risk patterns and potential offenders before they strike.
However, social media patrolling raises concerns about privacy, ethical boundaries, and data security. Striking a balance between digital surveillance and civil liberties remains a critical challenge. Implementing transparent policies, legal frameworks, and ethical AI solutions can ensure responsible policing while upholding user rights.
As cyber threats grow in sophistication, social media monitoring is no longer optional but a necessity for modern law enforcement. The integration of AI-powered crime detection tools, deep learning algorithms, and cyber forensic techniques can transform digital policing into a proactive, intelligence-driven crime-fighting mechanism. Governments, law enforcement bodies, and cybersecurity experts must collaborate to fortify online safety, dismantle cybercriminal networks, and secure the digital ecosystem.
This paper explores the impact, effectiveness, and challenges of social media surveillance in cybercrime prevention, offering insights into how digital policing is shaping the future of cybersecurity.
Keywords: Social Media Surveillance, Cybercrime Prevention, Digital Policing, AI in Law Enforcement, Online Crime Monitoring