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By:

Anil D. Salve

21 March 2026 at 8:11:09 pm

A Drought of Wisdom in an Ocean of Information

We live in an age where information is everywhere. With a single click, we can access news from across the world, thousands of opinions, countless videos and endless claims. Knowledge has never been so accessible. Yet, in this overwhelming flow of information, something increasingly scarce is discernment-the ability to distinguish what deserves our belief from what deserves our doubt. Information and knowledge are not the same. Reading, watching or hearing something does not automatically...

A Drought of Wisdom in an Ocean of Information

We live in an age where information is everywhere. With a single click, we can access news from across the world, thousands of opinions, countless videos and endless claims. Knowledge has never been so accessible. Yet, in this overwhelming flow of information, something increasingly scarce is discernment-the ability to distinguish what deserves our belief from what deserves our doubt. Information and knowledge are not the same. Reading, watching or hearing something does not automatically make it true. We need the ability to verify information, understand its context, recognise its purpose and only then form an opinion. In the digital age, this ability has become one of the most important forms of wisdom. Social media has transformed the way information travels. WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and other platforms have made communication faster, wider and more accessible. But the same speed that connects society can also overwhelm it. Information often reaches us before facts do. A headline is read before the full story. A short video is watched without knowing what happened before or after it. A photograph is circulated without its original context. A message arrives with the familiar words, “Forwarded as received,” and within minutes it may reach thousands of people. By the time the truth catches up, the rumour may already have done its work. The problem becomes even more serious when misinformation is deliberately created and circulated. Rumours may be planted not merely to mislead individuals but to divert public attention from an important issue, create suspicion, damage someone's reputation or push society towards a particular narrative. A distraction does not always need to be completely false. Sometimes a small piece of truth is mixed with exaggeration, selective facts or emotional language. The result can be more powerful than an outright lie because it appears believable. This is how narratives are manufactured. Social media platforms can become powerful tools in this process. A repeated claim begins to look familiar, and familiarity is often mistaken for truth. A provocative post attracts attention. Thousands of reactions create the impression that “everyone” believes it. One emotional video triggers another, comments intensify the mood, and before facts have an opportunity to speak, public sentiment may have already shifted. This is where mob psychology enters the picture. A society can move from calm to anger, suspicion to trust, or optimism to fear with surprising speed. People who would ordinarily think carefully may react differently when they see thousands of others expressing outrage, fear or hostility. The individual begins to follow the crowd, and the crowd begins to reinforce the individual. The danger is not limited to negative emotions. The same mechanism can also be used positively-to mobilise people for social causes, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, public awareness and community action. Technology itself is neither wise nor foolish. Its impact depends on how information is created, amplified and consumed. The greatest danger, therefore, is not that we have too much information. It is that we may lose the habit of thinking while consuming it. We are increasingly becoming consumers of information rather than creators of thought. Everyone has access to information today, but access does not necessarily mean understanding. The boundaries between a rumour and a report, an opinion and a fact, popularity and truth are becoming increasingly blurred. A post does not become true because thousands of people have liked it. A video does not become evidence merely because it has gone viral. An opinion does not become a fact because it is expressed confidently. An idea does not become correct simply because it confirms what we already believe. This last point deserves particular attention. We often accept information not because it is accurate, but because it is comfortable. We are naturally attracted to information that confirms our existing beliefs and suspicious of information that challenges them. In the digital world, this tendency can be amplified by algorithms that repeatedly expose us to content similar to what we have already watched, liked or shared. Gradually, we may find ourselves living inside an information bubble where we hear many voices-but mostly voices that agree with us. That is not diversity of information. It is an illusion of certainty. Discernment does not mean doubting everything. It means thinking before believing. It means asking simple but powerful questions: Who is saying this? What is the evidence? What is the context? What may be missing? Who benefits if I believe it? And have I heard the other side? These questions may take only a few seconds, but they can prevent hours, days or even years of misunderstanding. This responsibility is particularly important for the younger generation. Children today are growing up in an environment of unprecedented information exposure. They can encounter more information in a few hours than earlier generations might have encountered in weeks. Therefore, education cannot merely teach students how to collect, remember and reproduce information. It must teach them how to question, verify, analyse and interpret it. A student who can write the correct answer in an examination may be academically successful. But a student who knows how to ask the right question is better prepared for life. The classroom of the future must therefore produce not merely informed students, but thinking citizens. They must learn that forwarding a message is also a form of responsibility. Sharing a post is not an innocent act when it can affect someone's reputation, create public fear or influence social behaviour. The challenge becomes even greater in the age of Artificial Intelligence. AI can generate information, images, audio and video with extraordinary speed and sophistication. The distinction between what is real and what merely appears real may become increasingly difficult. In such a world, human judgment becomes more valuable, not less. Technology can produce an answer in seconds. It cannot automatically tell us whether that answer deserves our trust. Some answers require experience. Some require context. Many require the ability to think independently. We have more information, more technology and more connectivity than any previous generation. Yet our real challenge is to preserve something technology cannot manufacture for us: the capacity to think for ourselves. The ocean of information will only become larger. The question will no longer be, “How much information do we have?” The more important questions will be: What should we accept? What should we question? What should we verify? And what should we reject? No technology can completely answer these questions for us. No number of likes can substitute for evidence. No viral trend can replace judgment. No majority can turn misinformation into truth. That responsibility belongs to human beings. Information can tell us what happened. Discernment helps us understand what it means, why it happened, what may be missing from the story and how we should respond. Perhaps, therefore, the greatest educational challenge of our time is not to teach people how to find more information. They already know how to do that. The greater challenge is to teach them how to pause-to pause before believing, to pause before reacting, to pause before forwarding and to pause before joining the crowd. Because sometimes the most intelligent response to information is not an immediate reaction, but a moment of reflection. The ocean is already around us. It is growing deeper every day. What we need now is not more information to swim through it-but the wisdom to know which direction to take. (The writer is the Principal of Podar International School, Ausa, Latur. Views personal.)

Hands Up, You Are Under Digital Arrest

Writer: Amol Deshmukh
Amol Deshmukh
Nov 1, 2024
4 min read

A new scam is sweeping across the digital landscape, capitalizing on fear and coercion to perpetrate widespread fraud and data breaches. Dubbed the “digital arrest” scam, this insidious scheme targets individuals and businesses alike, with perpetrators impersonating law enforcement officials from agencies such as the CBI, CID, ED, Income Tax Department, Narcotics Control Bureau, and local police. Victims are falsely accused of serious crimes, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and organ trade, or informed that their SIM cards are linked to illegal activities.


In a chilling recent case, a tech worker in Hyderabad was virtually held hostage by fraudsters masquerading as Mumbai police. The ordeal began with a pre-dawn call, accompanied by fictitious accusations of money laundering. The scammers wove a narrative so convincing that the victim remained on the phone for over 24 hours, following instructions to stay hidden while threats of immediate arrest loomed over him. Armed with fake arrest warrants and meticulously crafted police documents, the fraudsters sought to siphon off his savings. It was a technical glitch during the prolonged call that inadvertently freed him from this harrowing experience—an accidental liberation that could have ended far more tragically. Though he managed to alert local cybercrime authorities in time, averting significant financial loss, the psychological scars of the ordeal lingered.


Another high-profile scam involving a 67-year-old woman in Mumbai serves as a grim reminder that age and experience offer no immunity against sophisticated cybercriminals. Posing as government telecom officials, the fraudsters threatened her with jail time using fabricated legal documents, coercing her into liquidating Rs. 14 lakh and transferring the funds to their account. This case underscores the desperate need for vigilance as these digital predators increasingly tailor their tactics to exploit the fears of their victims.


In an alarming tactic, scammers force victims into a state of constant surveillance, using video conferencing platforms like Google Meet or Skype to monitor their every move. They threaten immediate arrest unless their financial demands are met or personal information is disclosed. Once coerced, victims are led to believe that transferring money to an “escrow” account is the only way to clear their names. A notable case involves retired Major General Prabodh Chander Puri, who was swindled of `83 lakh by fraudsters posing as police and CBI officers, utilizing a fake Delhi Police cybercrime profile to extract his life savings under the guise of a refund and commendation for cooperation. The Panchkula Cybercrime Police have opened an investigation, but no arrests have yet been made.


The modus operandi of these scammers reveals a disturbing level of sophistication. Preliminary research on victims allows them to tailor their approach, employing fake names, badges, and even counterfeit documents like arrest warrants and court summons. Most encounters begin with intimidation through phone or video calls, creating a sense of urgency and fear of immediate consequences. Aggressive language, along with links to fraudulent websites, serves to extract sensitive personal information, including bank details.


To combat this wave of digital deception, awareness is paramount. If you receive a threatening communication, it is crucial to remain calm and assess the situation. Verify the caller’s identity before taking any action, as scammers often exploit fear to mislead victims. Sharing personal or payment information with unknown sources is a significant risk; be particularly wary of requests for payment through unconventional methods, such as gift cards or cryptocurrency.


Additionally, it is essential to verify any legal claims or summons through government websites or credible news sources. Reporting suspicious incidents to local authorities or cybercrime units can help protect others from falling prey to similar scams. Knowledge is power; informing friends and family about common scams can create a ripple effect of awareness and prevention.


In the unfortunate event of becoming a victim, swift action is critical. Notify your bank immediately and request that your account be frozen in such case. Gather as much evidence as possible, including call details, screenshots, and transaction records. Report the incident to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or the national helpline at 1930, or reach out to state-specific helplines for immediate assistance.


The “digital arrest” scam represents just a fraction of the growing sophistication in cybercrime, highlighting the urgent need for vigilance in our increasingly digital world. Scammers exploit psychological manipulation, social engineering, and advanced impersonation tactics, including “deep fakes,” all aimed at preying on victims’ fears. Understanding that legitimate authorities will never request money or sensitive information over the phone or via video calls is a critical first step in safeguarding oneself.


As citizens, it is imperative to know our rights and reject suspicious requests. By reporting incidents promptly and fostering a collective awareness, we can contribute to a safer online environment for everyone. Only through shared vigilance and education can we hope to dismantle the strategies of these digital criminals, ensuring that our online spaces remain secure and trustworthy

(The writer is a cyber security expert and serves as a technical advisor to the Maharashtra government. Views personal.)

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