Snooping Row Debate: Government Tells Online Platforms to Filter ‘Unlawful’ Data, Break End-to-End Encryption
Under the new proposal, if approved, the online platforms will have to mandatorily ‘unlawful’ data and break end-to-end encryption in the name of ‘national’ security.
New Delhi, December 24: Days after the Union Home Ministry issued a circular, authorising 10 central investigative agencies to intercept, monitor, decrypt any information transmitted, received or stored in any computer; the Union IT Ministry on Monday proposed amendments to the rules under Section 79-IT Act making it mandatory for online platforms to filter ‘unlawful’ data and break end-to-end encryption.
According to the latest proposal by the Union Ministry of Information Technology, the online platforms will have to proactively deploy technology, which would enable the government to filter data, considered as ‘unlawful’. They could be asked to break end to end data and break encryption anytime requested by the central agencies and the government. The Ministry states that this is done in regards to national security. MHA on Snooping Row: Government Within Its Rights to Allow Agencies to Monitor, Decrypt Computers.
Previously facing flaks from the opposition parties, the Union Ministry had clarified that no new powers were conferred to any of the security or law enforcement agencies. But, it had stated that the government has the authority to permit any law enforcement agency to monitor any computer in ‘particular’ cases.
Supporting the Union government’s proposal, BJP parliamentarian Subramanian Swamy opined that this move would help decrease the absurdity and nudity in the online platform. Speaking to Times Now, he said, “The social media has been used for extraordinary vulgarity. With this procedure, the government can take cognisance and initiate the police enquiry and so on. So yes, this is a step in restricting the fundamental right bar...it can be monitored that only genuine cases were taken up and everybody has a right to go to court.”
However, Rajya Sabha parliamentarian KTS Tulsi fears that powers can be misused. He said, “The problem with our laws is that enforcement doesn't take place. You give somebody power; he'll misuse it, even under existing rules, you don't take permission for 10 days, you only have to say that this is an emergency.”
Earlier, defending the order of snooping, the Union Home Ministry said, “"Rule 4 of IT (Procedure and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring and Decryption of Info) Rules'09 provides that ‘the authority may authorise a government agency to intercept, monitor or decrypt info generated, transmitted or stored in any computer for purpose specified in the Act’.” Rahul Gandhi Tweets on Snooping Row, Calls PM Narendra Modi an 'Insecure Dictator'.
Adding on it said in its statement, “No new powers have been conferred to any of the security or law enforcement agencies by the S.O dated 20.12.2018. Each case of interception, monitoring, decryption is to be approved by the competent authority i.e. Union Home Secretary.” It said that the new provisions had been made under the law made by the Manmohan Singh government in 2009.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 24, 2018 02:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).