Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cautioned against terrorists using the darknet, metaverse, and cryptocurrency for their malicious purposes and underscored the necessity of global cooperation in combatting cybercrimes during an interview with PTI. Modi called for the establishment of a comprehensive international convention aimed at countering the criminal exploitation of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

He further explained his position and emphasised the fact that cyberspace has introduced an entirely new battleground in the struggle against illicit financial activities and terrorism. The PM underscored the seriousness of cyber threats, highlighting that cyberterrorism, online radicalization, and money laundering represent only the surface of the problem.

Additionally, he recognised the peril posed by disinformation and fake news, stating that they possess the capability to incite chaos and undermine the credibility of news sources, thereby fueling social unrest.

In his interview, PM referred to the recent G20 Conference on Crime and Security hosted in India, which focused on the challenges posed by Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), AI, and the metaverse.

The conference addressed concerns pertaining to malicious cyber activities that contravene established norms, principles, and regulations of cyberspace and international law. Modi drew attention to the decentralized nature of cyber threats, emphasizing the necessity of collaboration among nations. He explained that those orchestrating these threats may be situated in one location, while the assets and funding could be distributed across different regions. This underscores the critical importance of working together to effectively combat them.