Home Ministry's order has put the nation to stir after its order authorising Central agencies to intercept, monitor, and decrypt any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer.
Home Ministry's order has put the nation to stir after its order authorising Central agencies to intercept, monitor, and decrypt any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer.
The order was released by the Home Ministry on Thursday and on Friday opposition parties opposed to the order saying it is unconstitutional and against fundamental rights.
The Congress, the CPI(M), the Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Trinamool Congress spoke out against the order, which they said was issued on Thursday.
Congress leader Anand Sharma said the order was against the right to privacy, which was a fundamental right.
After outrage, MHA issued a statement saying, " Rule 4 of IT (Procedure&Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring&Decryption of Info) Rules'09 provides that‘the authority may authorise a gvt agency to intercept, monitor or decrypt info generated, transmitted or stored in any computer for the purpose specified in the Act’.
It also clarified that 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.
Several political leaders spoke against the order. Here are some of the reactions, take a look:
1. 'You are making a mountain where a molehill does not exist'
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The Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday claimed that the order to monitor computers exists since 2009 after Opposition parties led by the Congress joined hands on to oppose the government's move to authorise 10 Central agencies to intercept "any information" on computers.
Responding to Congress leader Anand Sharma over MHA order, Jaitley said, on December 20, same order of authorisation was repeated that was existing since 2009.
2. 'This is the Orwellian state'
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Former home Minister P Chidambaram said:
"If anybody is going to monitor the computer, including your computer, that is the Orwellian state. George Orwell is around the corner. It is condemnable," added P Chidambaram.
3. No new powers have been conferred: MHA
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After outrage, MHA issued a statement saying, "Rule 4 of IT(Procedure&Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring & 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 the purpose specified in the Act’.
It also clarified that 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.
4. 'Done in national security interest under law made by UPA'
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Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on MHA's order allowing 10 agencies to monitor any computer resource: This has been done in national security interest. It has been done under the law made by the Manmohan Singh govt in 2009. Each case of interception & the decision is to be approved Union Home Secy.
5. 'Blanket surveillance is bad in law'
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Reacting to the development, Mamata Banerjee said:
"I have come to know that Union Home Ministry has issued an order yesterday authorising 10 Central Agencies to carry out an interception, monitoring and decryption of any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer resource.
"If it is for National Security, then only for that purpose Central Government already has the machinery. But, why all commoners will be affected? Public Opinion please...," she tweeted.
6. 'Why is every Indian being treated like a criminal? '
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CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury voiced his opposition on Twitter. "Why is every Indian being treated like a criminal? This order by a govt wanting to snoop on every citizen is unconstitutional and in breach of the telephone tapping guidelines, the Privacy Judgement and the Aadhaar judgement," he said.
7. 'Powers given to central agencies is extremely dangerous'
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The sweeping powers given to central agencies to snoop phone calls and computers without any checks is extremely dangerous. This step is a direct assault on civil liberties in general and fundamental right to privacy of citizens in particular, guaranteed by the Indian constitution, tweets Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu.
8. Modi govt is crossing all limits by seeking control of citizens computers'
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Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal also tweeted his opposition to the MHA order and said India has come under undeclared emergency.
"India has been under undeclared emergency since May 2014, now in its last couple of months, Modi govt is crossing all limits by seeking control of even the citizens computers. Can such curtailment of fundamental rights be tolerated in world's largest democracy?" he asked.
9. 'Big Brother Syndrome'
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The Congress' Randeep Surjewala said the government was brazenly flouting privacy laws. "Modi Govt mocks and flouts Fundamental Right to Privacy' with brazen impunity! Having lost elections, now Modi Govt wants to scan/snoop YOUR computers? Big Brother Syndrome' is truly embedded in NDA's DNA!" he said.
