Apar GuptaOn Wednesday, the Minister for the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MEITY), Ashwini Vaishnaw, withdrew the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019. The reasons for the withdrawal were circulated in a note to MPs, which stated that, “considering the report of the JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee), a comprehensive legal framework is being worked upon…”. The decision lays waste years of labour and deliberation on a law essential for the protection of every Indian in a digitised society. Hence, it is important for us to understand its implications by first taking into account why the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was introduced in Parliament, and second, whether its withdrawal is justified.
Twitter’s legal challenge to Centre’s takedown orders flags issues of free speech
Twitter is a foreign, Silicon Valley platform that trades in data to sustain its commercial operations. Further, there are issues with its own transparency mechanisms in content moderation decisions. Twitter is a foreign, Silicon Valley platform that trades in data to sustain its commercial operations. Further, there are issues with its own transparency mechanisms in content moderation decisions.
Privacy depends on cybersecurity — why government must rethink the new rules
If you had to choose between privacy and security, which would you prefer? While the answer may lean towards security for many, imagine losing out on both. This is likely to be the fallout of directions issued by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) on April 28, 2022.
Privacy depends on cybersecurity — why government must rethink the new rules
Sedition: Hold the celebrations. We need repeal, not just relief
This week, the Supreme Court in a historic order provided a measure of relief for the offense of sedition. This colonial law which was used to prosecute freedom fighters like Bal Gangadhar Tilak has been used with increased frequency in recent years.