'Dark Internet' hot choice of terrorists: Rajnath

Emphasising that cybercrimes are posing a "big challenge" to security establishment, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said "dark Internet" is being used by terrorists to recruit operatives and to "sell and purchase confidential information by big criminals."

Inaugurating the three-day Defence and Homeland Security Expo and Conference 2018, organised by the PHD Chamber, Singh also said investigating agencies are looking for a new software and improved face-recognition technology to scour social media for details on criminals not already recorded in the database.

"Organised crime and terrorism are the biggest challenges for us. We know that these elements are using new technology and sophisticated weapons. That is why, technical upgrade and modernisation of the central and state police forces is necessary and these two should go together," he said.

On the importance given to tackle cyber crimes, he said a separate division has been opened in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

CCTV not adequate

"We can track criminals through CCTV cameras. But some times, it is very difficult to identify and recognise them. We are trying to get an improved face recognition technology so that if a criminal is not identified by CCTV cameras, there should be a technology to get his face recognised," Singh said.

He also said the security establishment is trying to procure a software which can help investigators dig into social media to gather information about people whose details are not in the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS).

On border security, he said, the agencies are testing laser fences, radars and non-physical barriers at border locations in Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat and Assam. "The country's borders need to be effectively secured," he added.