ISLAMABAD, On the occasion of World Science Day for Peace and Development, concerns have been raised about the Indian government’s use of technology to surveil and suppress dissent. The Modi-led administration has been accused of employing technology as a tool to infringe on privacy rights and curtail freedom of expression.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the Indian government has implemented laws that facilitate increased surveillance and control over online content, particularly targeting social media platforms, digital news services, and streaming sites. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, passed in August, has been a significant point of contention, allowing authorities broad powers to request information from companies and block content based on government-appointed data protection board’s advice.

Rights groups and opposition lawmakers have criticized the act for jeopardizing privacy and lacking independent regulatory oversight. Access Now, a digital rights group, stated that the law enhances government control over personal data and increases censorship.

Opposition lawmakers and digital experts have expressed concerns that the legislation enables government agencies to access user data without consent and collect private data, noting a decline in digital freedoms since Narendra Modi’s ascent to power in 2014.

India has been recognized globally for its frequent internet shutdowns, often implemented to quell peaceful protests and government criticism. Since 2018, India has been the leading country in internet shutdowns, with significant occurrences in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. In 2022 alone, India recorded 84 internet shutdowns, with 49 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Digital rights activist Srinivas Kodali commented on the nature of these shutdowns as a form of repression, indicating the government’s intent to control dissent. Anuradha Bhasin, the editor of Kashmir Times, referred to the extended internet blackout in Kashmir post-August 2019 as a new norm in the region.

Additionally, the report highlights the extensive surveillance faced by Kashmiris, including digital monitoring at checkpoints, workplaces, and on social media. Indian forces have been reported to regularly check Kashmiris’ cell phones, and the occupation regime has recently introduced GPS tracker anklets for monitoring purposes.