Insights from Iran, Israel, and the US on WhatsApp: How Apps Serve as Powerful Tools of Statecraft

Insights from Iran, Israel, and the US on WhatsApp: How Apps Serve as Powerful Tools of Statecraft

As digital technologies increasingly intersect with governance, digital applications have become the new battleground for global influence and political upheaval. Daily applications—initially designed for convenience—now have the potential to empower nations, evolving into tools for surveillance, manipulation, and geopolitical strategy, as noted by Corporate Advisor and Independent Board Director Srinath Sridharan and DeepStrat Co-Founder and CTO Anand Venkatanarayanan.

WhatsApp lessons from Iran, Israel & US — Apps as killer instruments of statecraft    
In the modern era, the structure of power is no longer solely determined by the strength of a nation’s military. It now hinges on digital protocols, platforms, and codes. The most widely adopted digital systems—messaging applications, social media, and cloud services—are transcending their roles as mere profit-driven utilities, evolving into critical infrastructure: influencing public dialogue, shaping societal behaviors, enabling surveillance, and, in certain cases, impacting the stability of regimes. 

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