Reacting to reports of proposed changes to the Information Technology (IT) Act, the Congress on Monday accused the Modi government of creating a “surveillance State.”
“As reported in the media, Modi govt and large online platforms are privately discussing how to censor and break encryption of private data, social media, emails, messages and calls,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters at a press briefing.
“The Modi government is gearing to take another unconstitutional step towards gross violation of people’s Right to Privacy. Thus cementing and reaffirming the concept of an image of an Orwellian State,” he added.
"Modi government will hold the key to the personal and professional data of all sections. Be it a journalist whose ‘sources’ for a particular story can now be traced or be it any Opposition leader – whose strategy/discussions shall now become open to government scrutiny... Nobody will have the fundamental Right to Privacy and all this will only lead to an 'Inspector Raj'," Mr. Singhvi added.
The Congress spokesperson also pointed out how the latest move comes after the Home Ministry allowed the intelligence agencies to snoop on individuals.
“Violating the privacy of people has become the new and Modi government has become a ‘Peeping Tom’. Systematic & Systemic ground work is being laid by Modi govt to convert India into a Nanny State,” Mr. Singhvi said.
