The government’s new Telecommunications Bill has been widely criticised for threats to privacy, expanding the scope of government control and maintaining surveillance powers. This is why it was the topic of discussion at Digital Dialogues, a day-long event organised by Digipub to explore India’s digital ecosystem.

The session “Telecom Bill: Tech innovation, licensing and privacy” was moderated by lawyer Tanveer Oberoi. Panellists included lawyer Shreya Singhal, Internet Freedom Foundation cofounder Apar Gupta, and lawyer Vrinda Bhandari.

Shreya said an Aadhaar card and a single phone number “allow you to participate in any and all internet and telecom-based services”. “With this data, your whole life can be unraveled later, to perhaps attack you…You are now guilty until proven innocent.”

Vrinda said, “The presumption of change has converted to the presumption of criminality in India’s legislative space.” She described internet shutdowns as a “favourite tool” of political parties. Apar added that India’s telecom department still refuses to maintain a central repository of internet shutdowns. “The architecture of safeguards against those surveilled is also lacking,” he said.

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Text by Aarshi Rai.