The High Level Privacy Conclave

Since June 2010, Privacy India has been engaging in discussions with policy makers, the public and sectoral experts about privacy in India. The discussions have ranged from topics of identity and privacy, to minority rights and privacy, and consumer privacy. The findings of our research show that privacy was a neglected area of study in India during the past, however, this is changing. Advancements in technology, the introduction of e-governance initiatives like the National Fibre Optic Network, introduction of new legislations, and debates surrounding national security, have brought privacy debates to the forefront in India. Although currently sectoral legislation deals with privacy issues, e.g., the Telegraph Act or RBI guidelines for banking, India has just begun to consider a horizontal legislation that deals comprehensively with privacy across all contexts. This conference is an opportunity to look forward to what could be the future scope of privacy in India.

Privacy India was set up in collaboration with the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), Bangalore and Society in Action Group, Gurgaon, under the auspices of an international organization ‘Privacy International’.  Privacy International is a non-profit group that provides assistance to civil society groups, governments, international and regional bodies, the media and the public in a number of countries. For more info visit its website.

This is a closed-door meeting. For participation get in touch with Elonnai ([email protected]).

Conclave Advisors

Sunil Abraham, Centre for Internet &Society (www.cis-india.org)
Gus Hosein, Privacy International (www.privacyinternational.org)
Phet Sayo, IDRC (www.idrc.org)
Rajan Gandhi, Society in Action Group ([email protected])
Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Centre for Law and Policy Research, Bangalore (www.clpr.org.in)
Vickram Crishna, Privacy International (www.privacyinternational.org)

Agenda

February 3 (4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

Registration and Tea (4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.)

Welcome &Introduction to Privacy India (4:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.) Rajan Gandhi (CEO, Society in Action Group)

National Security and Privacy (4:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.) Moderator: Malavika Jayaram (Advocate, Bangalore) Gus Hosein (Executive Director, Privacy International, UK) Vakul Sharma (Advocate, Supreme Court, New Delhi) Justice AP Shah (Former Justice, Delhi High Court) PK Hormis Tharakan (Former Chief of Research and Analysis Wing, Govt of India) Saikat Dutta (Journalist, DNA) Manish Tewari (Member of Parliament, Ludhiana) Eric King (Human Rights and Technology Advisor, Privacy International, UK)

Internet and Privacy (5:45 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.) Moderator: Sunil Abraham (Executive Director, Centre for Internet & Society, Bangalore) Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Member of Parliament, Karnataka) Simon Davies (Director General, Privacy International, UK) Vinayak Godse (Director- Data Protection, DSCI) Deepak Maheshwari (Director Corporate Affairs, Microsoft) Amitabh Das (General Counsel, Yahoo! India) Talish Ray (Board Member, Software Freedom Law Center) Pria Chetty (Associate Director, Technology and Innovation Law, PricewaterhouseCoopers, South Africa)* Floriana Fossato (Center for Media and Society, Russia) *

The Way Forward (6:45 p.m - 7:00 p.m.) Elonnai Hickok (Policy Advocate, Privacy India)

Dinner (7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.)

Conclave Advisors

Phet Sayo
Rajan Gandhi
Sunil Abraham
Sudhir Krishnaswamy
Vickram Crishna

*Participants to be confirmed

• Amol Sharma (Journalist, Wall Street Journal)
• Col Alok Mazumdar (COO, Hans Foundation)
• Vibodh Parthasarathy (Associate Professor, Centre for Culture, Media & Governance, Jamia Milla Islamia University, Delhi)

See the Paharpur Business Centre in Nehru Place here

• Download the agenda here
  

• Download the event poster here