Internet Governance Blog
Moving Towards a Surveillance State
The cyberspace is a modern construct of communication and today, a large part of human activity takes place in cyberspace. It has become the universal platform where business is executed, discourse is conducted and personal information is exchanged. However, the underbelly of the internet is also seen to host activities and persons who are motivated by nefarious intent.
India:Privacy in Peril
The danger of mass surveillance in India is for real. The absence of a regulating law is damning for Indians who want to protect their privacy against the juggernaut of state and private surveillance.
CIS Cybersecurity Series (Part 5) - Amelia Andersdotter
CIS interviews Amelia Andersdotter, member of the European parliament, as part of the Cybersecurity Series
CIS Cybersecurity Series (Part 3) - Eva Galperin
CIS interviews Eva Galperin, Global Policy Analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).
The Difficult Balance of Transparent Surveillance
Is it too much to ask for transparency in data surveillance? On occasion, companies like Microsoft, Facebook, and the other silicon valley giants would say no. When customers join these services, each company provides their own privacy statement which assures customers of the safety and transparency that accompanies their personal data.
Privacy Protection Bill, 2013 (With Amendments based on Public Feedback)
In 2013 CIS drafted the Privacy Protection Bill as a citizens' version of a privacy legislation for India. Since April 2013, CIS has been holding Privacy Roundtables in collaboration with FICCI and DSCI, with the objective of gaining public feedback to the Privacy Protection Bill and other possible frameworks for privacy in India.
SEBI and Communication Surveillance: New Rules, New Responsibilities?
In this blog post, Kovey Coles writes about the activities of the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI), discusses the importance of call data records (CDRs), and throws light on the significant transition in governmental leniency towards access to private records.
The State is Snooping: Can You Escape?
Blanket surveillance of the kind envisaged by India's Centralized Monitoring System achieves little, but blatantly violates the citizen's right to privacy; Snehashish Ghosh explores why it may be dangerous and looks at potential safeguards against such intrusion.
Open Letter to Prevent the Installation of RFID tags in Vehicles
The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) has sent this open letter to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) to urge them not to intall RFID tags in vehicles in India.
Way to watch
The domestic surveillance regime in India lacks adequate safeguards.
Report on the 4th Privacy Round Table meeting
This report entails an overview of the discussions and recommendations of the fourth Privacy Round Table in Mumbai, on 15th June 2013.
Interview with the Citizen Lab on Internet Filtering in India
Maria Xynou recently interviewed Masashi Crete-Nishihata and Jakub Dalek from the Citizen Lab on internet filtering in India. View this interview and gain an insight on Netsweeper and FinFisher!
Interview with Mr. Billy Hawkes - Irish Data Protection Commissioner
Maria Xynou recently interviewed Mr. Billy Hawkes, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner, at the CIS´ 4th Privacy Round Table meeting. View this interview and gain an insight on recommendations for data protection in India!
Open Letter to "Not" Recognize India as Data Secure Nation till Enactment of Privacy Legislation
India shouldn't be granted the status of "data secure nation" by Europe until it enacts a suitable privacy legislation, points out the Centre for Internet and Society in this open letter.
World Wide Rule
Nishant Shah's review of Schmidt and Cohen's book was published in the Indian Express on June 14, 2013.
Indian surveillance laws & practices far worse than US
Explosive would be just the word to describe the revelations by National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden.
India Subject to NSA Dragnet Surveillance! No Longer a Hypothesis — It is Now Officially Confirmed
As of last week, it is officially confirmed that the metadata of everyone´s communications is under the NSA´s microscope. In fact, the leaked data shows that India is one of the countries which is under NSA surveillance the most!
A Technological Solution to the Challenges of Online Defamation
When people are insulted or humiliated on the Internet and decide to take legal action, their cases often follow a similar trajectory.
Comparative Analysis of DNA Profiling Legislations from Across the World
With the growing importance of forensic data in law enforcement and research, many countries have recognized the need to regulate the collection and use of forensic data and maintain DNA databases. Across the world around 60 countries maintain DNA databases which are generally regulated by specific legislations. Srinivas Atreya provides a broad overview of the important provisions of four different legislations which can be compared and contrasted with the Indian draft bill.
Report on the 3rd Privacy Round Table meeting
This report entails an overview of the discussions and recommendations of the third Privacy Round Table meeting in Chennai, on 18th May 2013.
