Indian Army deploys AI chatbot to counter online honey-trapping threats

In response to the escalating risk of online honey-trapping, a tactic frequently used in international espionage, the Indian Army has developed an AI-driven chatbot. This initiative is inspired by instances where Indian military personnel fell prey to online deception orchestrated by foreign intelligence operatives, leading to the compromise of sensitive information.

Online honey-trapping has become a significant concern, with reported incidents involving Pakistani intelligence targeting Indian military personnel and defense executives. In a notable case in 2020, an Indian Army soldier, Shantimay Rana, was apprehended for allegedly disclosing military information to Pakistan after falling victim to a honey-trap orchestrated by a Pakistani woman.

Similarly, a 27-year-old BrahMos Aerospace Engineer, Nishant Agarwal, was arrested for providing technical information to a Pakistani operative. Despite the sensitive nature of his role, Agarwal made himself vulnerable on the Internet, communicating with suspected Pakistani intelligence operatives using aliases like “Neha Sharma” and “Pooja Ranjan.”

In 2023, Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) detained scientist Pradeep Kurulkar, head of the Defense Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Research and Development Establishment Engineers Laboratory, highlighting the persistent threat of online deception in critical sectors.