Archives for the category Op-ed
Apar GuptaUS dismantling net neutrality gives India the chance to be a global leader
Unlike the US, net neutrality is a non-partisan issue and enjoys support across party lines in India.
Logging out. Longing out.
Partly free
Partly free
As the year draws to a close, Freedom House’s annual report on internet freedom points to a growing concern. At first glance, there is reason for cheer as India has maintained its score of 41 out of 100 (the score works on an inverted scale) and a rating of, “partly free”. However, this is deceptive, for the two reasons which are marked as positive trends for an open internet somewhat counterintuitively show continuing government efforts to undermine digital rights.
Net Neutrality fulfils constitutional promises
The road to an open Internet
Telecom policy rarely captures the popular imagination. While many may have immediate concerns on the nuisance of unsolicited telemarketing, worries of over-billing or even allegations of corruption in the reward of licences, they rarely take an active interest and become stakeholders in the development of a regulation.
Dialling the wrong number
Dialling The Wrong Number
Shortly after the Supreme Court declared privacy to be a fundamental right, most cellphone users received a message from their telecom operators which seemed to negate it. The message threatened disconnection of cellphone connections if a user failed to link their Aadhaar. These messages and calls have only increased in frequency. This re-verification requires a user to visit a telecom service centre, undergo biometric authentication by putting their fingerprints on an authentication device, and hope that the details in the Aadhaar database match with their cellular connection.