Online mobs disgrace dissent: Misri abuse episode shows freedom of expression isn’t a license for venom

The televised briefings on Operation Sindoor made foreign secretary Vikram Misri a familiar face. And a familiar target. Following the announcement of 'stoppage of fire' between India and Pakistan last Saturday, the same Misri - and his family - became target of shameful online abuse.

The sheer toxicity forced Misri to lock his social media account. This was not mere expressions of holding differences of opinion, criticism, or questioning GoI's decision of cessation of firing - valid in a liberal society, no matter how unreasonable.

But what the Misris faced was a battery of poison that was shocking even for a society that frequently displays a misplaced sense of shock. This episode only highlights the degeneration of public behaviour that brings out the worst mobster mentality of the mob.


Online abuse, trash talking about family members, virulent misogynistic comments and depraved threats have increasingly become par for the course to express disagreement. Normalisation of such behaviour is facilitated by the anonymous nature of social media.

Ironically, it runs counter to the very idea of patriotism, service, never mind human decency. Thankfully, India, as a whole, has been disgusted by the trolls and has stood by Misri. What these hurlers of venom fail to recognise is the fact that this does little to dispel notions of all Indians as veritable 'villagers with pitchforks and torches' lacking basic kindness and ability to think sensibly.

Freedom of expression lies at the core of open societies. Without it, we would live in an authoritarian state. But it is this online mob army from the citizenry that ironically gives freedom of expression a bad rep. Disagreement and disapproval must not be conflated with such noxious attacks.