India's Data Protection Bill Slammed for Failing Human Rights Standards
The Indian government's data protection bill has come under fire for failing to meet international human rights standards, as it seeks unrestricted access to personal data. This raises concerns about digital authoritarianism and the potential misuse of surveillance technology.
In a worrying trend, the Indian government has been expanding its surveillance powers. In December 2018, the Ministry of Home Affairs granted ten agencies blanket legal authority to intercept and monitor information on computers. This was followed by another attempt in May 2020, when the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting sought a tool for fact verification and disinformation detection on social media platforms.
Meanwhile, human rights defenders have been targeted. Amnesty International and Citizen Lab revealed a spyware campaign in 2019, where nine Indian activists were targeted. The UN's Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression has since called for a moratorium on the global sale and transfer of such technology. The activists were sent emails with malicious links, infecting their devices with NetWire malware. Three of these individuals were also targeted earlier in 2019 using Pegasus spyware in the NSO WhatsApp hack.
The Indian government has not released details of any criminal investigations against the hackers, despite evidence of a crime. Eight of the targeted individuals were advocating for the release of those indicted in the Bhima Koregaon case.
The Indian government's data protection bill and increasing surveillance powers raise serious concerns about digital authoritarianism. The targeting of human rights defenders using spyware, without proper investigation, further undermines trust in the government's commitment to human rights and freedom of expression. The international community and human rights organizations continue to call for stricter regulations on surveillance technology.
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