294 - 757 - Methods of defeating Indian E-Surveillance - Techno Legal news

Posted on October 22nds 2010
By Pritesh N Munjal

Those who are opposed to the Orwellian nature of Indian government must not sit idle but do as much as possible to reclaim their civil liberties. For instance, Indians can use self defence methods to defeat e-surveillance of Internet, e-mails, telephone conversations, instant messaging, etc by Indian government and its agencies.

Similarly, those who are not comfortable with the Aadhar project or UID project of India and its dubious management by the Nandan Nilekani led unique identification authority of India (UIDAI), must restrain from giving their biometric details.

As far as Blackberry services in India are concerned, it is quiet doubtful that Blackberry would fight for the human rights and civil liberties of Indians in Indian cyberspace. The only initiative in this regard in India seems to be managed by Praveen Dalal under the banner of protecting human rights in Indian cyberspace (HRPIC).

Fortunately, another good initiative in this regard has been launched in the form of RIM Check project. This project would analyse the data leaving Blackberry devices for e-surveillance and other civil liberty violations.

Meanwhile, the Indian government has decided to follow the footsteps of its Chinese counterpart. India is planning to control Indian portion of Internet and looking forward for a “kill switch” type option. Under this option, the Indian government and its agencies can cut off all Internet services during emergencies.

The times to come would be really challenging for human rights activists but the battle between e-surveillance and civil liberties would keep on going.

206 - SAY NO TO AADHAR PROJECT AND UIDAI by Pritesh N. Munjal

By Pritesh N Munjal
17th September 2010

Indians are very docile and they do not care what the government of India and its agencies can do to deprive them of their civil liberties and privacy rights. Take the example of the most obnoxious and nefarious project named Aadhar project or UID project of India. It is managed by unique identification authority of India (UIDAI), headed by Nandan Nilekani.

Techno legal civil liberty experts like Praveen Dalal have already expressed that Aadhar project is unconstitutional and illegal even after the façade of National Identification Authority of India Bill 2010. According to Dalal “Human Rights in Indian cyberspace have already been outlawed by projects like Aadhar, Natgrid, CCTNS, etc. This is because these unconstitutional and illegal projects are neither supported by any legal framework nor are under the parliamentary scrutiny”.

It is surprising why Indian citizens are not opposing to such mass scale and blatant e-surveillance exercise like Aadhar/UID project? With biometric details and all relevant details in the hands of Indian government and its agencies, the life of Indians is going to be a hell.

Further, in the absence of any privacy rights and other procedural safeguards, there would be no requirement at all to follow legal means of lawful interception and e-surveillance.

It is high time to say NO to Aadhar project as government of India is well committed to waste hard earned public money on worthless projects like Aadhar. We must oppose this project before it takes away our privacy and life from us.