Modi Govt Converting India into a Surveillance State: Communist Party
Communist Party says that Modi government – which is facing serious corruption charges for enabling corporate loot – seeks to curb dissent through media control and social media surveillance.
By Rakesh Raman
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) – CPI (M) – said Sunday that the government headed by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is converting India into a surveillance state.
The party was referring to an RTI response that indicated Modi government’s attempt to monitor and control the social media conversations of citizens.
In its statement, CPI (M) stated that Modi’s government – which is facing serious corruption charges for enabling corporate loot – seeks to curb dissent through media control and social media surveillance.
Communist Party’s apprehension comes on the heels of a recent global report that has revealed Modi government’s intentions of controlling the media before the Lok Sabha election.
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Freedom House – a Washington-based independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world – has released its “Freedom on the Net 2018” report.
The report says that the government has indicated it is looking into regulating social media platforms ahead of the 2019 general / Lok Sabha election. With internet freedom score of 43 out of 100, India falls in the category of “partly free” country.
Modi Govt converting India into a Surveillance State? Knee deep in Corruption & enabling Corporate Loot at the cost of the common person, the Modi Govt seeks to curb dissent through Media Control & Surveillance on Social Media! pic.twitter.com/OpNPefblLT
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) December 9, 2018
Recently, the Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, along with senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs, security agencies, and Department of Telecommunications, held a meeting with representatives of Facebook, Google, Twitter, Whatsapp, You Tube, and Instagram to review actions taken to prevent misuse of social media sites.
By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of a humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society.
