Big Brother is Watching: Surveillance in the Digital Age

In today's interconnected world, it's increasingly difficult to maintain complete privacy. From the moment you step onto a plane to the calls you make on your smartphone, you're being tracked in ways you might not even realize.

There are growing concerns over digital surveillance in modern society. With advancements in technology, governments, corporations, and malicious actors are increasingly capable of tracking individuals' movements, communications, and online activities.

The Common Surveillance Methods are:

• Flight Tracking: Airlines and government agencies track the location and movements of aircraft, including passenger information.

• Phone Tracking: Your smartphone's GPS, cellular data, and Wi-Fi connections can be used to track your location and movements.

• Surveillance Cameras: Cameras are ubiquitous in public spaces, capturing footage of people and their activities.

• Online Tracking: Websites and apps collect data about your browsing habits, search history, and online purchases.

The Implications of Surveillance are:
• Privacy Concerns: Mass surveillance raises serious concerns about privacy and civil liberties.

• Government Oversight: The power to track individuals can be abused by governments or other entities.

• Corporate Data Collection: Companies collect vast amounts of personal data to target advertisements and personalize services.

This raises significant privacy issues, sparking debates about the balance between security, convenience, and personal freedom in today's interconnected world.

The new Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act is set to significantly tighten the regulations surrounding the handling of personally identifiable information (PII). Legal experts believe that this will bring much-needed accountability and control over how data is managed and shared.

The Act introduces penalties for violators, compelling data fiduciaries to be more cautious when managing and sharing personal data, both within their systems and with third parties. This includes ensuring that any consent given is specific and not used for unrelated purposes.

As per experts, the legislation imposes strict limitations on how long data can be stored, the purposes for which it can be used, and the responsibility fiduciaries bear for misuse of data without explicit consent from the individuals concerned. These provisions aim to protect personal data from unauthorized access and exploitation, ensuring greater data privacy for citizens.

Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Editor-in-Chief-VARINDIA