Following news reports
appeared in today’s papers :
Suggest ways to block Facebook, WhatsApp during emergency situations: DoT
Telecom
companies asked to explore ways to block social media apps
Extracts :
The
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is examining the option of blocking
popular social media apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram in
order to curb fake news and child pornography, and has asked telcos and
internet service providers to suggest ways for doing so.
“You are …requested to explore various possible
options and confirm how the Instagram/Facebook/WhatsApp/Telegram and other such
mobile apps can be blocked on internet,” DoT said in a letter dated July 18.
The letter was marked to telcos including Airtel, Jio, Vodafone, Idea, besides
telecom and ISP industry bodies.
MeitY has informed DoT that blocking such apps
during emergency situations are difficult as they work through multiple IP
addresses and different protocols , which is why a ROBUST SOLUTION is required
to protect national security
-----------------------------------------------------------
My Take :
·
Why talk about blocking only social media apps ?
·
What is the point in blocking only during certain periods ?
·
Other
than “ temporary blocking “ of “ only social
media apps “ , is there a permanent solution ?
·
Other than “ Telcos
& ISPs “ , does not other stakeholders too have a say in this matter ?
·
Why confine the issues to only “ Child Porn “ and “ Fake News “
?
·
What are our options other than “ blocking “ ?
·
What is our “ Bargaining
Position “ ?
·
What is it that the Government itself
considers a “ reasonable good solution to
protect national security “ ?
·
Why are we adopting this “ wishy washy “
and “ knee jerk “ approach ?
·
In 2010 , the Chinese Government told
Google , “ Quit China “ / We have BAIDU !
·
On 09 Aug 1942 , a frail Mahatma Gandhi ,
having nothing more than a moral power , told the mighty British Empire , “ Quit India “
·
76 years later , it is time to tell all
Online Platforms / Mobile Apps ( whether local or foreign ) , you have the
following options :
“ Quit India “ or enter into a CONTRACT with DPA ( Data Protection Authority ) as envisaged
in
,
If we do not take such a
firm stand , expect the likes of Facebook to siphon away personal / private
data of Indian Citizens and sell it all over the world !
If in doubt , read :
What next ?
Every Tom , Dick and Harry
, selling following data of Indian Citizens ?
Who I am ( name )
· Where and when, I
was born / who were my parents
· Where I grew up /
where I live currently
· Do I live in a
rented place or in an owned flat
· What Schools /
Colleges I attended ( - and degrees I acquired )
· What Companies I
worked for and salaries I got
· How I travel to
work ( own vehicle or public transport )
· Where I go for my
holidays / what books I read
· Who I married and
who are my children ( - and how many )
· If divorced , how
much alimony I pay and to whom
· Where I invest my
money ( Banks – Funds – Equity etc )
· How much I have
borrowed from whom and for how long
· My Credit ranking
( including my spending history / card wise – wallet wise )
· What are my eating
( food ) preferences and the restaurants I visit
· What I do for
entertainment ( Music / Movies / Videos )
· What clothes I wear
and how often do I buy
· Who are my friends
and how often I phone / text them / meet them
· What ailments I
suffer from and what medicines I take
· What minor offences
( traffic ) or crimes that I have committed
· What elections I
have contested ( won and lost )
· Who are my doctors
/ lawyers / brokers / agents etc
· What web sites I
visit and how often and for how long
· What do I search on
the Net / What RSS feeds I subscribe to
· What TV channels I
watch and Radio Stations that I listen to
· Every photo of mine
ever taken ( selfie or otherwise )
· Every phone call
that I ever made or received
· Every Email / Text
message that I ever sent or received
· Every blog /
comment that I ever posted on the Web
· Every face-to-face
communication that I engaged in
The only option that spells “ win win “ for the Online Sellers ( of products
or services ) , and
the Indian Government , has to be a Contract between Equals
If anyone has an option which is
better than “ A Matter
of Motives “ , let all hear about that
Now
07
Aug 2018
www.hemenparekh.in
/ blogs
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