Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Monday, 25 March 2024

Surveillance is one step below Arrest

 


 

Context :

PMLA case: ED must tell accused grounds of arrest, reaffirms top court  ..  HT  … 23 Mar 2024

Extract :

The Supreme Court has dismissed the Union government’s plea to reconsider its judgment that made it mandatory for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to provide a copy of the grounds of arrest to accused in money laundering cases while adding that a mere verbal information would be construed as a breach of constitutional right of arrested persons.

 

My  Take :

Ø  Who watches the Watchmen ?  …………………  12  Jan  2019

 

Extract :

Any agency wanting to conduct surveillance of online / offline activities of an Indian Citizen , shall submit its’  requirement in this section

 

This shall contain details such as :

 

·         Name of the agency

 

·         What activity of the citizen is proposed to be surveyed and for how long

 

[  Multiple selection from the following  ] :

 

#   Visits and postings on Social Media web sites

 

#   Visits and searches on E Commerce web sites

 

#   Searches on Search Engines  /  All digital traffic ( including thru Alexa / Google

     Home type devices )

 

#   Messages sent / received on Messaging Apps /  E Mail services

 

#   Records of Digital Payment Transactions on Banking / FinTech Network

 

#   Audio logs from Landline and Mobile Service Providers for telephonic talks…etc

 

 

Agency will also need to specify the PURPOSE of the proposed surveillance , by selecting one or more of the following suspected reasons ( list is not comprehensive ) :

 

·         Tax Evasion  /  Money Laundering

 

·         Criminal Activity  /   Militancy

 

·         Fraud  /  Breach of Trust

 

·         Anti-National Activity  /  Sedition  /  Treason

 

·         Fake News / Pornographic content posting

 

·         Speeches / articles likely to create enmity among people

 

  

Such a request shall need Online Authorization of , all of the following officers :

 

#   Chief of Agency concerned

 

#   Secretary ( Cyber Security ) – Ministry of Information Technology

 

#   Data Protection Regulator

 

 

 

As soon as such a request is “ Approved / Authorised “ , an email ALERT will go out automatically ( without any human intervention ) to the citizen concerned that she is “ under surveillance “ .

 

 

This will ensure that there is NO SECRET surveillance !

 

 

Copies of this E Mail ALERT will also get sent to all other Intelligence Agencies for a coordinated effort and for avoiding duplication

 

 

  #     SURVEILLANCE  HISTORY  SECTION

 

          At any time of his choice , concerned citizen can login at this section

          and see WHICH Agency surveyed her and for how long

          

 

  #       But the citizen concerned will NOT be able to see following entries by the

           Agency :

 

  #   What was the PURPOSE / REASON for the surveillance

 

  #  WHAT DATA  got collected

 

  #  FINDINGS  and proposed  COURSE of ACTION , if any

 

 

This part will be visible to all other Intelligence Agencies , who will have facility to add their own information / data about the concerned citizen which is in their possession , in order to compile a COMPREHENSIVE  DOSSIER about that citizen .

  

However, these other Agencies will NOT be able to EDIT any ENTRIES / FINDINGS of any other agencies

 

 Although these ENTRIES are NOT accessible to the concerned citizen in a normal course , the same shall be made available to her in case any government agency relies upon these during a Court Case against that citizen , arising from such surveillance

  

My proposal,

 

#  Gives a free hand to the Agencies to proceed with their investigations, without

   needing PRIOR PERMISSION,

 And

 #  Ensure total TRANSPARENCY of their surveillance activities to the persons

    being investigated

 

    

This will assure the ordinary citizens (– and also “ vulnerable “ citizens such as politicians belonging to opposition parties ? )– that they are not being snooped upon secretly !

 

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.HemenParekh.ai  /  26 March 2024

 

 

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