How social media amplified Jantar Mantar violence and drew police scrutiny
Delhi Police have expanded their investigation into the violence at the student-led Jantar Mantar protests in mid-July. They are now focusing on several well-known YouTubers, social media influencers, and three digital marketing firms. The Special Cell is reviewing posts, videos, and livestreams to find content that may have spread rumours, heightened emotions, or encouraged clashes between protesters and security forces.
This is different from earlier efforts, which mostly involved blocking accounts or removing content. Now, police are examining how online activity turned a protest about alleged NEET paper leaks into a major event both online and in person. What began as an online campaign against exam issues quickly became a sustained protest at Jantar Mantar. Posts and videos from creators on Instagram and other platforms reached more young people than traditional political messages.
Many creators used their phones to record gatherings, interview participants, and share short videos calling for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign. The march toward Parliament on July 20 turned violent. Police reported that over 100 security personnel were injured, and several FIRs were filed for rioting, attacking officers, and damaging property. Protesters were also injured during the use of tear gas, baton charges, and clashes near Connaught Place and nearby areas. Later, facial recognition systems identified nearly 2,900 people with past criminal records among those present at the peak of the protest.
As clashes happened on the streets, social media also became a place for competing stories. Delhi Police found and blocked over 400 accounts linked to Pakistan that shared AI-generated deepfakes, edited photos, and fake videos. These included false claims about protester deaths, army involvement, and altered content featuring activist Sonam Wangchuk. Another 180 accounts were flagged for spreading misinformation. Police also requested the removal of hundreds of posts with abusive content aimed at the Prime Minister and the Government. Livestreams and real-time posts played a key role during the protest.
Videos and comments could quickly unite people or create divisions. Investigators say some content went beyond simply documenting events; it spread rumours and strong language that may have influenced the crowd. Digital forensic teams are now examining mobile data, chats, location details, and other electronic evidence, along with CCTV and body- cam footage. The latest part of the investigation focuses on well-known YouTubers and influencers whose channels are popular with young people, who made up much of the protest crowd. Police say they are reviewing some livestreams and posts to see if the language or presentation may have encouraged unrest.
Three digital marketing and social media management companies are also being investigated. Police are looking at their documents and promotional work to see if they helped spread protest messages or planned strategies. Influencers have been questioned in past Delhi protests, but this investigation is bigger, showing how much India’s creator economy has grown. Independent channels and short videos often cover stories that traditional media miss, offering quick updates and a personal touch.
However, the same tools that allow more people to share their views can also spread false information quickly, especially when algorithms promote posts that get strong reactions. Livestreams, in particular, give a raw sense of being present, which can influence how people behave in the moment. Police have sent notices under the Information Technology Act and asked platforms to provide data and remove certain content.
Earlier checks found about 450 posts with deepfake or AI- generated material. Now, investigators want to find out if any of this content was part of a planned effort to mislead people or increase tensions.The Jantar Mantar incident shows that social media can both help and harm modern protests in India. It makes it easy to spread information and highlight real issues, as seen in the protest’s early online success. But it can also allow foreign interference, fake stories, and fast-spreading content that is hard to verify. For influencers and digital companies, this investigation raises questions about their responsibilities.
When a livestream or short video reaches hundreds of thousands of people instantly, it becomes harder to tell the difference between sharing opinions and contributing to public disorder, especially when legal issues arise. As Delhi Police follow the digital trail, the case high- lights a bigger challenge. In a time when smartphones let anyone broadcast and algorithms decide what becomes popular, keeping public order now means watching both physical spaces and online activity.
