THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC has marked the beginning of an era where surveillance is the new normal. China is using camera-fitted smart helmets and drones, and facial recognition technology, to identify potential patients. Hong Kong is tracking people using electronic wristbands; Singapore has launched a contact-tracing app; and Israel is carrying out phone surveillance.
In April, India launched Aarogya Setu, a smartphone app that alerts people when they come into contact with Covid patients. When privacy concerns emerged, the government declared Aarogya Setu an open-source application that allows developers and cybersecurity experts to inspect the app and its vulnerabilities. “Aarogya Setu is a powerful companion that protects people. It has a robust data security architecture,” said Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Given the record of governments targeting dissidents, surveillance tools do not enjoy public confidence. In 2019, the Toronto-based Citizen Lab exposed how Pegasus, a spyware designed by the Israeli firm NSO Group, had been snooping on 1,400 people in 45 countries, including India. Pegasus had hacked into cell phones that had WhatsApp, the multimedia platform owned by Facebook.
WhatsApp has 400 million users in India. The security breach raised fears of state surveillance, after NSO Group said it sold Pegasus to government agencies only. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with more than 100 activists, lawyers and journalists who were targeted by the spyware, accused the government of snooping on citizens. Last November, the activists wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding an inquiry into the breach.
This story is from the September 13, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 13, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
There Is A Wind Blowing Against The BJP, And It Will Only Pick Up Speed
Interview - Akhilesh Yadav, Former Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh
Between hospital and home
Transitional care centres can add a lot to India's health care system
EFFORT VS EFFECT
The government's attempts to ensure quality drugs is evident, but how well new policies can be monitored on the ground remains to be seen
A way to let go of fear
Accepting the use of adult diapers is a journey with various stages-denial, concealment, rejection and reluctance
Mandeeps & a miracle
Two strangers, one deadly disease and an act of kindness. How Mandeep Mann saved Mandeep Singh, an acute leukaemia patient, by donating his stem cells
The A, B, C of cosmetic surgery
Between eight to 10 lakh cosmetic surgeries happen in India every year. Who is an ideal candidate, and what are the risks and results you can expect?
Vaccines and meningitis
In sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, and encompassing the northern part of Nigeria, there exists a region known as the African Meningitis Belt (AMB).
Celebrating diversity and inclusivity
As Indians battle it out in our nation's 18th general election, it is again time for voters to reflect on the \"Idea of India\"-or rather, on two duelling ideas of India that are now before us and between which the nation must choose at the ballot box.
Defendant: an Hermès handbag
When Hermès was hit with a class-action lawsuit last month for \"antitrust\" activities, it didn't see it coming. Most of the luxury world has all eyes on this suit, filed by two interested consumers who claim they were denied a purchase, and whether it would go to trial.
A legacy, bound
Amal Allana's biography of her father, Ebrahim Alkazi, is as much personal as it is historical
