The government’s response to the #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests led by Gen Z can be seen as a multifaceted strategy aimed at discrediting the movement. Here are some common tactics that might be employed:

Negative Framing: The government might frame the protesters as uninformed or disruptive, questioning their understanding of the bill and portraying the protests as a hindrance to progress.

Media Manipulation: Leveraging state-friendly media outlets to disseminate unfavorable coverage of the protests, emphasizing any incidents of violence or disruption over peaceful demonstrations.

Social Media Campaigns: Utilizing bots and trolls to flood social media with pro-government messages and disinformation to dilute the impact of the protest hashtag and create confusion.

Highlighting Positive Aspects of the Bill: Emphasizing the benefits of the Finance Bill 2024, suggesting that the opposition is baseless or politically motivated.

Legal Actions and Intimidation: Threatening or initiating legal actions against prominent activists and organizers, using intimidation tactics to deter participation.

Engaging Influencers: Co-opting popular influencers and public figures to speak against the protests or support the bill, aiming to sway public opinion.

Understanding these tactics can help protestors better strategize their response and ensure their message remains clear and effective.