Indian Govt Can Now Track & Monitor Data On Your Computer, And Police Can Seize Your Devices
The Ministry of Home Affairs has granted sweeping powers to 10 central agencies to track monitor and intercept data on every computer in the country. For the first time ever the government has given the power to scan data on a computer -- and not just in transit between two computers -- to investigating agencies according to reports. The order requires any person in charge of the computer to fully cooperate and extend technical assistance if they...Read More
In a scary Orwellian move that should give all citizens pause, the Ministry of Home Affairs has granted sweeping powers to 10 central agencies to track, monitor and intercept data on every computer in the country.
For the first time ever the government has given the power to scan data on a computer -- and not just in transit between two computers -- to investigating agencies, according to reports.
The signed order issued yesterday, Dec 20, by the Ministry of Home Affairs authorizes India's 10 central agencies to intercept, monitor, and decrypt "any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer."
All the 10 agencies listed in the order are as follows: Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Control Bureau, Enforcement Directorate, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, CBI, National Investigation Agency, Cabinet Secretariat (R&AW), Directorate of Signal Intelligence (for service areas in Jammu and Kashmir, North-East and Assam only) and the Delhi Police Commissioner.
According to an NDTV report, this new order requires any person in charge of the computer to fully cooperate and extend technical assistance to investigating agencies, if they come knocking on your door.
If the person in question doesn't cooperate, they can face seven years in jail and a monetary fine.
This move by the Home Ministry to grant such sweeping powers to investigating agencies -- to track, record and scan data on any computer -- can be misused, obviously. And it's drawing some criticism online.
Why is every Indian being treated like a criminal? This order by a govt wanting to snoop on every citizen is unconstitutional and in breach of the telephone tapping guidelines, the Privacy Judgement and the Aadhaar judgement. https://t.co/vJXs6aycP0
¡ª Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) December 21, 2018
Welcome to surveillance state .
¡ª #OROP #BanEvm ? (@immune_soul) December 21, 2018
While there is no explicit mention of phones being tracked under this order, but if you start expanding the definition of a computer to a mobile phone, you can start to understand the sheer intrusive power of what this could mean in violation of an individual's right to privacy -- a fundamental right declared by Supreme Court of India last year.
