Debate on Privacy and Security, Maldives in Economic Crisis, Classical Language Status

(General Studies II – Polity Section – Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure; Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.)

• Privacy and security in the digital age are crucial, particularly for messaging platforms like Telegram, which serve millions globally.
• Telegram’s recent changes in privacy policies, including the sharing of user data with law enforcement, highlight the ongoing tension between user privacy and public safety.
• This shift reflects broader challenges in balancing privacy, security, and regulatory compliance as digital platforms evolve.

The Need for Privacy –

1. Fundamental Right: Privacy is recognized as a fundamental human right. In India, the Supreme Court’s 2017 ruling in the Puttaswamy case affirmed that privacy is part of the right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
2. Sensitive Data Protection: Messaging platforms like Telegram, which boasts over 700 million active users, handle sensitive personal information. Without robust privacy protections, users are at risk of data breaches, identity theft, or unauthorized surveillance.
3. Trust and User Confidence: Telegram’s popularity surged after WhatsApp’s controversial policy update, precisely because it offered more privacy through features like end-to-end encryption. Users trust that platforms like Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp will protect their private conversations from third-party access.
4. Journalistic and Activist Protection: Platforms like Telegram are essential for journalists, whistleblowers, and activists working in hostile environments. For example, during protests in Hong Kong and Belarus, encrypted messaging platforms became lifelines for activists to organize and communicate without fear of government surveillance.
5. Freedom of Expression: Privacy also underpins the freedom of expression. A 2019 United Nations report highlighted that privacy online is essential for individuals to express themselves without fear of reprisal.

The Importance of Security –

1. Combating Criminal Activity: While privacy is vital, security concerns are equally important. Platforms like Telegram have been used by criminal organizations and extremist groups for illegal activities. For instance, the app has been criticized for facilitating the exchange of child sexual abuse material and terror-related content.
2. Balancing Privacy with Law Enforcement: Law enforcement agencies need access to certain data to investigate and prevent crimes. Telegram’s recent policy shift to share user data like phone numbers and IP addresses with authorities under valid legal requests is an effort to balance privacy with security.
3. Preventing Misinformation: Telegram’s open group and channel features, where users can create public forums with up to 200,000 members, make it a hotbed for misinformation. A 2022 study by Oxford University’s Computational Propaganda Project revealed that Telegram was a significant platform for spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
4. User Safety: Ensuring user safety is a key responsibility of messaging platforms. Telegram has introduced AI moderation tools to detect harmful content, like WhatsApp’s system where flagged messages can be reviewed by moderators. \

Regulations in India –

1. IT Act, 2000 and Safe Harbour: In India, the Information Technology Act, 2000, provides a “safe harbour” for intermediaries like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal under Section 79. This clause protects platforms from liability for user-generated content if they demonstrate due diligence in preventing illegal activity. However, platforms are required to act swiftly when notified of unlawful content.
2. Intermediary Guidelines, 2021: India’s IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, mandate that platforms with more than 5 million users, like Telegram, must have a grievance redressal officer to handle user complaints and remove flagged content within 36 hours.
   • These rules also require companies to trace the “first originator” of any unlawful content, which poses a challenge to end-to-end encryption, as evidenced by WhatsApp’s lawsuit against the Indian government in 2021.
3. Data-sharing with Law Enforcement: Under Indian law, platforms must share user data with law enforcement agencies for investigations related to national security or criminal activities.
4. Privacy vs. Security Dilemma: The global privacy-security dilemma is particularly evident in India, where platforms must balance user privacy with the need to comply with government demands. Reports, such as a 2022 Human Rights Watch report, have raised concerns about potential government overreach and censorship in the name of national security

Way Forward –

1. Enhanced Transparency: Platforms should continue publishing detailed transparency reports, like Telegram’s quarterly reports, outlining their cooperation with law enforcement and actions taken against illegal content. This transparency builds user trust while maintaining accountability.
2. Stronger Encryption with Controlled Access: Research from MIT in 2022 suggests advancements in encryption technologies could allow secure data sharing with law enforcement under specific conditions, without compromising user privacy. Such innovations could bridge the gap between privacy and security.
3. User Education: Platforms must educate users about privacy settings, encryption, and data-sharing policies. A 2021 Pew Research Center survey found that a majority of users lack understanding of how their data is handled. Educating users about their privacy rights can empower them to better manage their digital footprint.
4. Global Standards: There is a growing need for international standards that align privacy with security. A 2020 European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) report recommended harmonized global regulations to ensure that platforms can navigate different national laws while maintaining consistent privacy practices.

Balancing privacy and security is an ongoing challenge for digital platforms. While privacy safeguards personal freedoms, security ensures public safety. A nuanced approach, combining transparency, technological innovation, and global cooperation, is essential to protect both individual rights and societal welfare.

• The civil war in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has intensified with over 20,000 deaths.
• Earlier, it began as a power struggle between military leaders and has since spread nationwide.
• The war has evolved along ethnic lines, involving various militias.
• Ethnic tensions, especially in Darfur, have intensified, with RSF targeting non-Arab communities.
• Both sides have been accused of war crimes, including sexual violence and extrajudicial killings.
• Despite the UN arms embargo, both parties have continued receiving weapons from external actors, including Russia, the UAE, and China.
• The war has displaced over two million people, leading to a refugee crisis in neighbouring countries like Chad, South Sudan, and Ethiopia.
• Clashes over agricultural land have worsened.
• Concerns over an oil pipeline from South Sudan to the Red Sea have also emerged.
• Limited involvement and attention from the international community raising fears of Sudan’s descent into a prolonged conflict similar to Libya’s.

Dig Deeper: Read about Operation Kaveri.

• Maldives President arrived in New Delhi seeking economic assistance amid a looming debt crisis.
• Economic Challenges:
• India and the Maldives signed a major $750 million currency swap agreement.
• Maldives Expected debt waivers, as the Maldives faces a $1.5 billion debt over the next two years.
• The Maldives has high external debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 110% and falling foreign reserves.
• Immediate payments towards Islamic bonds (sukuk), are due, with a total of $114 million.
• India has supported the Maldives with a $50 million bond subscription via the State Bank of India.
• Diplomatic Shift:
• The visit marks a shift in relations following the “India Out” campaign to taking steps to improve ties.
• Earlier visits of the Maldivian President to Turkiye, UAE, and China marked a different focus, but recent efforts to warm ties with India include sacking ministers critical of India.

Dig Deeper: Locate Maldives in the Indian Ocean along with various island countries.

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking to procure Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft under two different programmes to address a critical shortage of such force multipliers.
• Follow-on Order of Six Embraer-based AEW&C Systems:
• These will be similar to the three Netra systems currently in service.
• These systems will be procured from Embraer, with minor equipment modifications by DRDO’s Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS).
• Expected to be cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council soon.
• Development of Six Airbus-based AEW&C Systems (Mk2):
• These will be based on Airbus A-321 aircraft.
• Modifications will be done by Airbus, with DRDO developing the equipment.
• Contract negotiations on cost and configurations are ongoing.
• Existing Capabilities: The IAF operates three Israeli Phalcon AWACS with 360-degree coverage and three Netra AEW&C systems with 240-degree coverage.

Dig Deeper: Read about recently taken steps to strengthen the Indian Air Force.

• The Union Cabinet recently granted classical language status to five languages: Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit.
• This decision followed a revision of the criteria, particularly the removal of the requirement for an original literary tradition, which was deemed difficult to prove due to the interconnectedness of ancient languages.
• Revision of Criteria: The focus shifted to tangible evidence such as archaeological, historical, and numismatic proof.
• Linguistic Expert Committee: Comprising representatives from the Union Ministries of Home and Culture, the committee includes linguistic experts and is chaired by the President of the Sahitya Akademi.
• The criteria for classical status were first established in 2004 and revised in 2005.
• New Criteria:
• The language must have a high antiquity of early texts and recorded history over 1,500-2,000 years.
• It should have a body of ancient literature that is considered valuable heritage, with a distinct classical tradition.

Dig Deeper: Read about benefits accorded to Classical Languages of India from the Central Government. (Refer July Magazine)