Digital Volunteers: How Citizens Became the Police’s Eyes and Ears on Social Media
Posted by Prof. Kapil Gautam, Department of Information Technology 29 December 2025 As someone who has been teaching Information Technology for nearly twenty years, I often tell my students that the most powerful use of technology is not always the most complex one. Sometimes the real magic happens when technology is combined with active citizen participation. Just a few days ago, on 24–25 December 2025, ADG Ramit Sharma held a major zonal workshop at Police Lines Bareilly for digital volunteers from all nine districts of the Bareilly Zone. The enthusiasm and commitment shown by the volunteers during this meeting once again highlighted how effective this initiative has become in tackling misinformation and maintaining public order. Ramit Sharma is the brainchild of the entire Digital Volunteers Initiative . It all started in 2015 when, as DIG Meerut Range, he began reaching out to influential people on social media — bloggers, student leaders and active Facebook group admins — and...