Centre for Internet and Society

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C-DoT's surveillance system making enemies on internet

praskrishna — 2014-04-04T09:45:37Z

Reporters Without Boundaries says it gives unbridled power to law- enforcement agencies to snoop on citizens.

The article by Krishna Bahirwani was published in DNA on March 21, 2014. Sunil Abraham is quoted.

The Central Monitoring System (CMS) developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) has come under fire from a France based non-profit organisation, which claims the system has the capacity to directly snoop on all forms of communications over phone and internet, without involving telecom operators.

The NGO's Reporters Without Boundaries report 2014, 'Enemies Of The Internet' has equated C-DoT with Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in the UK, and the US's National Security Agency (NSA), which recently came under criticism for spying on citizens.

CMS, India's mass electronic surveillance system, was rolled out in 2013.

Before the CMS, tapping was done by the telecom operators, but not before taking prior permission. The CMS gives direct access to C-DoT employees and law-enforcement agencies.

CMS has created an automated front containing central and regional databases, which central and state government agencies can use to intercept and monitor any landline, mobile or internet connection in India.

Minister of state for information technology Milind Deora said, "The new data collection system will actually improve citizens' privacy because telecommunications companies would no longer be directly involved in the surveillance."

Asked what would prevent C-DoT employees, who would have access to data, from misusing it, Deora said, "There is a switching mechanism (that) diverts the call to law-enforcement agencies and eliminates layers. The existing surveillance and interception system is actually insecure as the operator, people from the home ministry and other government officials have access to the data. The CMS will erase such people from play."

"I want the people to know the design aspects and how the system is being used for lawful interceptions, so that they can shed their inhibitions We do not want to put power in the hands of the bureaucrats" he said.

Harold Dcosta, a cyber security expert who trains Maharashtra and Goa police, said, "It's possible that employees of CDoT/law enforcement agencies could use the information gathered by CMS for personal or political use although 43 and 43 A of the IT Act would protect people when something like that happens and will give the person compensation.

He said, "There should be more transparency with regard to CMS".

Sunil Abraham, executive director of Bangalore-based non-profit Centre for Internet and Society said the mistaken assumption in their thinking is technology will serve as a check and balance.

"Technology can always be compromised," he said. There is no way to find out about what is actually going on. If the CMS is abused it is very difficult to prove."

Deora said a privacy law is being drafted to address these issues. Last month, a parliamentary standing committee rejected the government claim that IT Act protects citizens' privacy. The committee, chaired by former Congress MP Rao Inderjit Singh, said, "The committee is extremely unhappy to note that the government is yet to institute a legal framework on privacy."

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praskrishna — 2013-03-26T10:56:10Z

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Burma to host first Internet freedom forum

praskrishna — 2013-06-05T07:10:38Z

Myanmar ICT Development Organisation (MIDO) will host “Myanmar Internet Freedom Forum” in Yangon from June 1-2. In the first forum of its kind in Burma, MIDO aims to raise awareness of Internet freedom in a country that has endured decades of media censorship.

Chan Myae Khine's post was published in Asian Correspondent on May 22, 2013. The Centre for Internet and Society will be joining local netizens and organisations for discussion.

In a country with a notoriously low Internet penetration rate, MIDO has been conducting Internet and communications technology (ICT) training in cities and remote areas “to empower citizens using ICT to address core development and poverty-reduction goals.” It is involved in BarCamps and government organized forums as well.

“As our organisation focuses on ICT4D and Internet Policy, Internet freedom is also a vital issue that we look on,” said Htaike Htaike Aung, Program Manager of MIDO.

The major goal of the Myanmar Internet Freedom Forum is to advocate for Internet freedom in Burma (Myanmar). “As the media and policy makers do not have awareness on Internet Governance Forum and its agenda, the issues have not been addressed and lack media attention,” said MIDO in its proposal submission. “Not having local resources on Internet Governance is also a cause for the lack of advocacy groups and campaigns.”

MIDO also aims to promote “access” and “digital rights” with a multi-stakeholderism approach involving government, journalists, bloggers, social media activists, netizens and international experts so that all voices are allowed and heard. Various topics such as Cyber Law, Digital Security, E-education and Netizen Empowerment will be discussed during panel discussions and breakout sessions at the event.

MIDO expects 300 attendees for Day 1 of the forum, when the Center for Internet and Society, the Thai Netizen Network and other regional groups will be joining local netizens and organisations for discussion. “For the government representatives, we’re still trying to get confirmation,” explained Htaike Htaike.

MIDO will invite about 20 netizens from around the country to join interested participants from Yangon to discuss how to effectively monitor Internet freedom on the second day of the forum. The aim is to establish a network to monitor and report on Internet censorship in Burma. MIDO hopes to publish Internet Censorship Index each year with help of the reports generated from the network.

With a 7% of Internet penetration rate, this is a problematic area in Burma, though there has been some progress and Internet business opportunities have begun to emerge. The Internet Freedom Forum, as an all-inclusive platform, has potential to bring necessary knowledge to the public, such as awareness of rights when accessing Internet and other privacy issues which are vital for new netizens.

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