The Supreme Court of India has rightly raised concern over the decision of the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry to set up a social media hub for monitoring online data. While reacting to the move of I & B ministry, SC on Friday sought response from centre and expressed concern over it by observing that it will be like “creating a surveillance state.” Recently, the Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited, a Public Sector Undertaking under the ministry, had floated a tender to supply software for the project.
The move of ministry is uncalled for. They seem to be on the verge of starting a surveillance state to keep an eye on the activities of the citizens. It is a threat to the privacy of the citizens of this country. Why government is keen on monitoring the online activities of citizen? It is clear that government wants to tap whatsApp messages and other online activities of the citizen. If the social media hub is allowed to be set up by Information and Broadcasting Ministry, it will surely be misused by the people at the helm of power. It is a brazen attempt by the centre to carry out surveillance of its own people. This should be strongly opposed by the people of India. The whole country will be hoping that SC strikes down move and stop the ministry from setting up a ‘surveillance cell.’