When Apple iPhone adds privacy as the USP of its phone, then we should realize, we are on course to the Huxlian (Aldous Huxley) world, specifically referring to Brave new world, a wonderful dystopian portrayal of today’s reality being foretold. Privacy is a fundamental component of human life. With the passing of every minute, this fundamental aspect of human life is being compromised more than ever. Beyond the juridical debate of privacy being a fundamental right under article 21 of the Indian constitution under the right to life and liberty and International statutory frameworks, the need of the hour is to understand, how this slippery slope of erosion of Privacy and ever-expanding surveillance tentacles pose a threat to us individuals, society and our institutions.
First, let us look at the growing tendencies of large-scale surveillance mechanisms becoming norms of our present society. Secondly try to develop a framework to understand the larger picture, our notions of privacy concerns and specifically on Nation-state’s obsession with security discourse. Subsequently, touch on the questions and what it means for our near future, or are we on course for an Orwellian future? In the coming sections let us dissect the above points and start a meaningful discussion.
Ever-expanding tentacles
To build my argument, I would like to quote instances in the past few months, wherein there have been cases of large-scale penetration of technology and potential for breach of privacy and obtrusion. The state and Corporation’s over-arching surveillance in blatant and unboxing of Pandora box, sometimes in form of Pegasus and other times as IT Intermediary rules 2021, etc is all out there in the open.
India’s national capital Delhi has ranked first with most cameras installed per square miles, according to Forbes list. Based on the analysis of the world’s 150 cities, Delhi has installed the highest CCTV cameras in public places. As per the Forbes data, Delhi has a total of 1,826.6 cameras per square mile. (1). this is counted as one of the achievements of the Government. Secondly in Telangana, Hyderabad, The city is one of the most surveilled cities in the world – has begun construction of an ominous ‘Command and Control Centre’ (CCC), intended to connect the state’s vast facial recognition-capable CCTV infrastructure in real-time. In addition, it is found that Telangana state has the highest number of facial recognition technology (FRT) projects in India. (2) These are just two of the many many cases of the increasing number of surveillance. Cambridge Analytica’ is said to have 5,000 Data points of individuals which they used to influence/Hack the elections (3). Aa’dhar the Database of nearly 130 crores individuals is also some call the drill to the “Data Oil”(4).
Now let us dwell deeper into the realm of Privacy and its implications from different vantage points.
Privacy
Common Myths on Privacy:
1. Privacy is an elitist concern:
One of the biggest misnomers regarding the entire discourse in and around privacy is that it is an elitist concern. That it shouldn’t concern the working class and common people. It is only the concern of ivory tower intelligentsia and possessive academicians. The truth is, as far from reality as telling agency and dignity shouldn’t be a concern for common people. As the data-driven economy has moved from demographic targeting to Behavioral data mining, it is high time, we must realize that it is a concern of every human being. Ritika Khera’s book on Aadhar exposes the fallacy of Aadhar being a silver bullet for inclusion and prosperity(5).
2. We have nothing to hide:
One more narrative which is floated and readily consumed is that we have nothing to hide. Our every action is transparent and it is the responsibility of the citizen to expose every iota of activity to the state. This is also a farce and bogus argument; citizens are entitled to their privacy and information. In the era, in which Data is the “new oil”, the drill to exploit via such narratives needs to be debunked.
3. Everything is out there in the open:
This is also an everyday excuse of folks when we discuss about privacy. Whatsapp, Facebook, the Meta empire has colonized all our data, thus there is nothing left to protect.
4. There are laws in place:
The Data privacy laws are there to take care of our personal data. The Data privacy law in place in India is not enough to cater to the gamut of a Data-driven economy. Especially the new provision of IT rules to store data up to 180 days and other provisions especially need our attention and in the wake of Pegasus, this is the least in this loaded, unbalanced warfare on people vs Big tech & Big Brother.
Privacy and Panopticon:
Jeremy Bentham, the English Philosopher had designed a Panopticon, a type of institutional building and design control to monitor the inmates, in such a way as the guard is able to track the prisoners centrally. Many theorists believe the advent of the internet has possibilities of transforming society into gridded walls, with round-the-clock surveillance. Project Pegasus has already highlighted ‘this dystopian vision in bone and flesh. Michel Foucault took this argument forward in his seminal work, Discipline and Punish highlighted how such mechanisms discipline and result in behavioral change. Thus State and such agents control the behavior and manipulate and push towards submission. This fundamentally challenges the Dignity, Agency and Autonomy of Humans and the society such projects envision. ( To be continued…)
References
- https://www.livemint.com/news/india/this-indian-city-has-world-s-most-cctv-cameras-in-public-places-beats-china-11629953170655.html
- https://internetfreedom.in/project-panoptic-has-partnered-with-amnesty-international-article-19-to-launch-banthescan-in-india/
- https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/07/the-great-hack-facebook-cambridge-analytica/
- https://www.livemint.com/news/india/big-boost-for-uidai-today-99-of-indian-adult-population-holds-aadhaar-card-11624939991372.html
- Dissent On Aadhaar: Big Data Meets Big Brother ,January 2019,Reetika Khera
