Digital Democracy

Who owns your Digi Yatra data?   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP2a91iKYqg  The battle in Delhi HC is testing India's privacy promises  

https://theprint.in/judiciary/a-battle-over-your-digi-yatra-data-is-playing-out-in-delhi-hc-its-testing-indias-privacy-promises/2780857/ A battle over your Digi Yatra data is playing out in Delhi HC. It’s testing India’s privacy promises

DESPL is claiming its stake in the ownership of the data shared over the app between 2021 and 2023—the time when it was in partnership with DYF, which later terminated the contract with the Hyderabad-based software company after allegations of Rs 36 crore fund siphoning emerged.

“The statements under the privacy policy such as for the deletion of the data are unilateral and have yet to be evidenced by any third party audits. For instance, there are some elements of personal data that need to be retained due to the technical operation of the system or regulatory mandates that require data retention. Hence, the statements contained in the privacy policy by DigiYatra need to taken with caution since it does not have any meaningful oversight,” he said.

The legal fight coincided with rising public unease about how Digi Yatra collects and uses biometric data. In December 2023, passengers reported that airport staff and CISF personnel were scanning boarding passes and taking photographs without explicit consent, effectively enrolling them into Digi Yatra without explanation. Some travellers even alleged their digital consent forms had been signed on their behalf.

The decision to start advertising on WhatsApp marks a major shift for a private messaging service that has long positioned itself as being different from other social media platforms. https://thewire.in/tech/whatsapp-introducing-advertising-is-a-potentially-lucrative-but-risky-move 

WhatsApp’s move still feels different.

The platform’s identity is deeply tied to privacy, simplicity and intimacy. It is not a social media feed, it’s a communication tool. And a tool which many people use to share personal or sensitive information.

And even if adverts are not based on message content, they may still end up being quite personal to users because of all the other data Meta has access to through Facebook and Instagram. Information about who you talk to, and how often, is still accessible – and can be used for targeted advertising.

So if Meta already knows your favourite sports team or holiday destination for example, it may show ads related to this information. If you’ve been chatting with friends on Whatsapp about a recent fixture or planned trip, it may feel strange if you then start seeing ads on those themes.

by Janina Steinmetz and Yusuf Oc

26/06/2025

Privacy Supreme, Internet Freedom Foundation’s annual event commemorating the historic Puttaswamy judgment, explores the intersection of emerging technology, democracy and human rights. This year’s event delved deep into the evolving role of digital technologies and their impact on privacy and democracy. The event featured a keynote address by former chief justice of Odisha high court and senior advocate Dr. S. Muralidhar. The unmoderated panel discussion on the ‘Future of Privacy in India’ had a line-up of six distinguished speakers.

https://thewire.in/video/privacy-supreme-2024-justice-muralidhar-on-working-towards-a-less-intrusive-state 

03/09/2024

https://thewire.in/media/gateway-to-censorship-journalist-bodies-express-concern-over-proposed-broadcasting-services-bill 

Journalist bodies – The National Alliance of Journalists (NAJ), the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ), and the Andhra Pradesh Working Journalists Federation (APWJF) join the Network of Women in Media India, (NWMI) and the Editors Guild of India and others – have expressed “grave reservations” against the proposed Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill 2023. They describe it as a “gateway to censorship”.

 In a joint statement the NAJ, DUJ, and APWJF say that this proposed Bill is a step further “to expanding a new era of undeclared censorship” and increasing government control over all types of media from TV channels, to films, and platforms like Netflix and Prime Video, YouTube, radio, even Instagram and other social media platforms as well as news websites and journalists.

The Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 comes on the heels of the Telecom Act of 2023, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and the IT Amendment Rules, 2023.

According to the statement, the Broadcasting Bill blurs the distinction between journalism and content creation. “The definition of news and current affair has been deliberately left so broad that all sorts of online media can be controlled through it. It clubs together both broadcast and digital media, although broadcast media includes the big channels while digital news media channels are often small outfits run by one or two persons.”

It goes on to add, “Many clauses, particularly those relating to self-censorship, are completely impractical given the nature of small news media. Some dangerous clauses include the power to seize electronic devices including studio equipment. There are apprehensions that the Bill could muffle independent voices including those of YouTube journalists, news analysts and digital websites.”

As an alternative, the journalist outfits say such a Bill could wait till the formation of a common body like a Media Commission of India comprising experts and stakeholders who could look into all aspects of self regulation rather than inviting government control.

“Today there exists a wide spectrum media, ranging from print, broadcast, digital to TV and other media and it is not possible to regulate it through such measures. Instead, it is necessary to organise extensive consultations with all stakeholders, look into the common grievances’ and seek common solutions. Decisions made without democratic consultations could smack of authoritarianism.”

They allege that the Broadcast Bill “is being pushed in a hurry and could be yet another attempt to curb independent thinking, protest and dissent. It should be immediately rolled back.”

According to the statement, “the Bill is ominously, inexplicably silent on the concentration of media ownership in big corporate hands which is itself a big threat to freedom of expression and diversity of opinion”.

01/02/2013