BTech IIT Delhi, PhD @UCBerkeley | A professional lifetime in Semiconductor Chip Design | New found interest: AI and the Law | Concerned about Civil Liberties
Chennai, India
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This is a horror show!
Disturbing report in @techreview .
As @apar1984 notes👇🏾"The law in India has not caught up with this new kind of harm".
Still, he and @internetfreedom are challenging this assault on our right to privacy, so do support them!
technologyreview.com/2026/09…
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A former census official explains 👇🏾 that most of the new questions have no value for a census but are relevant for a national population register.
Given the dangers of collecting personal identifiers (see @internetfreedom analysis), this must be resisted.
theprint.in/india/governance…
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Thanks @apar1984 for an excellent video and linked detailed analysis.
At a minimum, personal ID numbers must go, not just changed to "voluntary".
Otherwise, to quote from the analysis, "what is built is a population register, not a statistical exercise" to guide public policy.
IFF has written to the Union Home Secretary and the Census Commissioner over the household survey notified four days ago. Serial numbers 36 to 40 ask for mobile, Aadhaar, voter ID and passport numbers, not whether you have them, unlike serial number 40, which only asks about availability of a driving license.
IFF supports enumerating caste for substantive equality. But pairing Aadhaar numbers with religion and caste sits against the Aadhaar Act's bar on profiling, and the questionnaire itself remains unpublished.
We are not opposed to the census. We want it conducted in a way that earns public trust.
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Thank you @internetfreedom for your part in putting a brake on this assault on our digital rights.
Sent you a thank-you gift, in appreciation!
Others are encouraged to do the same or better yet, sign up for one of the membership plans: 👇🏽
internetfreedom.in/donate/
Statement
The PIB has just issued a statement at 3:00 PM on December 3, 2025 that the government will not make pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app mandatory for mobile manufacturers. This is a welcome development, but we are still awaiting the full text of the legal order that should accompany this announcement, including any revised directions under the Cyber Security Rules, 2024.
Everyone who raised their voice, reported on the issue, or pushed back against this mandate deserves credit for bringing us to this point. For now, we should treat this as cautious optimism, not closure, until the formal legal direction is published and independently confirmed.
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
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Once again, the nonsense solution of Aadhaar-Voter ID linking (to "clean up" voters lists) has been raised. Perhaps, Sir Humphrey explains it best! 👇🏽
But seriously, do follow and support @internetfreedom who have been challenging this for a long time.
piped.video/watch?v=trw1PbQt…
This is a statement by @internetfreedom on the Aadhaar-EPIC linking. The attached blogspot goes into greater detail on the lack of legality and the need for a clearly carved opt-out in Form-6B of the Registration of Electors (Amendment) Rules, 2022.
Link : internetfreedom.in/iffs-stat…
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Congratulations @internetfreedom and @apar1984 on winning the Global Privacy and Human Rights Award!
So well-deserved!
I joined the celebration by making a small donation to "fuel" all the upcoming battles!
Folks please consider doing the same: 👇🏾
internetfreedom.in/donate/
At IFF, we work to ensure that privacy isn’t just a theoretical debate but a real, lived fight—in courts, in legislation, and in public awareness. This award is fuel for the battles ahead, for gig workers, farmers & marginalized communities.
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V. Visvanathan retweeted
Jean Dreze reads Right to Food Campaign statement on war crimes in Gaza and the Indian government's complicity. The campaign urges the government to end all relations with Israel for the time being.
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All public are equal, but some public are more equal than others!!
#KillTheBill
#ContentBachao
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When a news story leads by quoting @internetfreedom on the shady ways of the govt secretly modifying the draft Broadcasting Bill, you know that IFF has been doing a fine job of defending our digital rights!
Do support then in any way you can, I just did: internetfreedom.in/donate/
The Internet Freedom Foundation on Saturday decried “secret” changes to the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, which expands regulatory requirements on online news and entertainment media.
trib.al/60UNGzD
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We did it back then and we can do it again!
Just follow the simple steps provided by @internetfreedom in this thread.
#netneutrality
#SaveTheInternet
Some nostalgia in exchange for your support👇🏽
Back in 2015, when TRAI began the consultation on Net Neutrality, millions of Indians participated, which resulted in a massive victory for internet users. It is time to once again work towards that victory. 4/6
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On a wet, gloomy afternoon, made gloomier by the Gazette notification of DPDP Act 2023, I received some unexpected cheer in the form of goodies from @internetfreedom 👇🏾.
Thanks IFF for the lovely merch, but more so for continuing on with the good fight in these difficult times✊🏾!
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In a democracy it is supposed to be: transparency for the government and privacy for the citizens.
Not the other way around.
#AccountabilityNotSurveillance
#SaveRTI
#SaveOurPrivacy
Say NO to the #DataProtectionBill ( #DPDP2023 )
#TwitterStorm today at 5 PM to resist #DigitalPersonalDataProtection
Join the fight to save the #RighttoInformation
#AccountabiltyNotSurveillance
#SaveRTI
#dataprotectionbill
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Hardly surprising that the only stakeholder that is happy with the #DPDPB2023 is Nasscom👇🏾.
In #NewIndia #DigitalIndia the rights of ordinary citizens don't seem to matter much.
#SaveRTI
#SaveOurPrivacy
thehindu.com/business/dpdp-b…
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V. Visvanathan retweeted
I too dissented and walked out. The adoption of the report was in flagrant violation of LS & RS rules as was its tabling yesterday in both houses.
@KartiPC @JohnBrittas @jawharsircar
I have written to @loksabhaspeaker @ombirlakota about the adoption of Report on DPD Bill in spite of it being in violation of rules of LS & RS & objections of members of the parliamentary standing committee. I fully support @JohnBrittas’ dissent
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Let me see if I got this right: The committee submitted a report on a draft version of the Bill even when there was already a final version that was approved by cabinet but not yet tabled in the House and so could not have been referred to the committee??🤔
Thanks hon minister @Rajeev_GoI for responding to my tweet. You just endorsed my position. I am sure you haven’t seen the report where as I have — being a member of the Committee. 1/3
@KartiPC @MahuaMoitra @ShashiTharoor @ThamizhachiTh @jawharsircar
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Rajya Sabha MP and member of the standing committee on IT @JohnBrittas speaks to @Ahmedshabbir20 of @thenewsminute on the DPDP bill - the glaring imperfections in the draft version and also the improper passage of the final bill through the committee. 👇🏾
piped.video/watch?v=x0f2W0gE…
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Rajya Sabha MP and member of the standing committee on IT @JohnBrittas speaks to @Ahmedshabbir20 of @thenewsminute on the DPDP bill - the glaring imperfections in the draft version and also the improper passage of the final bill through the committee. 👇🏾
piped.video/watch?v=x0f2W0gE…
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My top 3 reasons why we should say #NoToDPDP
1. Weakens RTI in the garb of "Privacy". #SaveRTI
2. Govt departments/agencies will be largely exempt from the ambit of the bill.
3. the role of Data Protection Board will be entirely determined by the executive.
Detailed analysis 👇🏾
For a complete breakdown of why the DPDPB doesn’t do what it says it does and actually protects your data, read our brief ⬇️ 3/3
internetfreedom.in/read-our-…
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V. Visvanathan retweeted
He also said that #internetshutdown creates a breeding ground for misinformation, fake news, suppression of valuable info. Shutdowns caused 40000 cr economic loss in last 3 years. Devastating impact on education, commerce.
Demanded restoration of internet & peace in #Manipur!
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V. Visvanathan retweeted
In #RajyaSabha today, John Brittas raised the issue of 'ominous spectre' of #InternetShutdown, particularly in #Manipur. He argued that blanket shutdown instead of preventing crimes, brings impunity. The incidents of violent gangrapes came to light very late due to internet ban..
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