??Govt can intercept your messages in emergencies | ?Julian Assange's freedom is relevant even today

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Govt can now intercept your messages in emergencies

The Telecommunications Act 2023, which comes into effect on June 26, 2024, grants the government new capabilities one of which is allowing the government to intercept messages and take temporary control of telecom networks during public emergencies or for public safety.

• This only replaces the existing Indian Telegraph Act of 1885 which also allowed the Centre and State to have such powers. This is not a new provision.
• Only sections 1, 2, 10 to 30, 42 to 44, 46, 47, 50 to 58, 61 and 62 are coming into effect.

Who can intercept? The Act allows both Centre and State governments to take temporary possession of telecom networks. Section 14 of the Act mentions that any ‘forcible shut down of a network’ requires authorisation from the Centre until and unless there’s a natural disaster or public emergency.

The difference w.r.t interception: The insertion of the words ‘defence and security of the State’ and when in 2023 when the bill was introduced many critics noted the attempt to bring online communication services like Signal, Zoom, and Gmail under the same licensing regime as broadcasting services, expanding surveillance and suspension powers.

• The Act defines “telecommunication” and "message" broadly, potentially including internet-based messaging services like WhatsApp and Telegram, though OTT services' status remains unclear.
• There are concerns about the lack of clear guidelines and independent oversight mechanisms for these surveillance powers.

What else? It mandates telecom operators to use verifiable biometric identification (Aadhaar) for new SIM connections is in direct conflict with the fundamental right to privacy.

• The Act imposes penalties for spam and unauthorized commercial messages, and restricts individuals to nine SIM cards, reduced to six in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.

Important links if you are still interested in the subject:

• Telegraph Act 1885 and Telecommunications Act 2023
• Internet Freedom Foundation’s reading of the Act
• PRS Analysis of the Bill

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Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi shake hands as Gandhi assumes charge as the Leader of Opposition.

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Julian Assange's freedom is relevant even today

Speaking of mass surveillance (or the fear of it), it’s nothing more than a coincidence that the WikiLeaks founder has walked out of jail. But for an entire generation, their existence overlaps with his absence and the infamous “dead letter drop” of documents in 2006 is completely alien to them.

A primer: WikiLeaks gained global attention by publishing a series of high-profile leaks, including:

• A 2010 video showing a U.S. military helicopter attack in Baghdad.
• It published large collections of classified military documents related to Iraq War Logs and Afghan War Diary
• Over 250,000 U.S. State Department diplomatic cables revealing confidential communications.
• The damage was not limited to the United States as cables of interactions with many other key allies were also released.
• One of his famous quotes is ‘Every war is a result of media lies’.

His release: Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has been released from Belmarsh maximum security prison in the UK after striking a plea deal with the United States.

• According to the U.S. government, conspired with Chelsea Manning to obtain and publish secret reports about the US wars.
• This deal involves Assange pleading guilty to a single count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defence documents, a violation of the US Espionage Act.
• Assange will be sentenced to 62 months in prison, with credit for the five years (60 months) he has already served in the UK, allowing him to return to Australia.

But why now? This question has left many intrigued. ZeroHedge believes that the plea deal was done for the US government to alleviate a growing political problem which was under pressure from various international figures and to influence President Biden's low poll numbers ahead of a debate with former President Trump.

• Trump had vocally been supportive of Assange as the documents released shocking details about Hilary Clinton including how she knew that ISIS was being funded by Saudi Arabia and Qatar governments (Third slide ??)

• However, Trump’s Department of Justice had allowed his indictment in 2019, many believe this was primarily due to opposition from other Republicans like Mike Pence.

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