[Team JKB- FB Live] Are we witnessing the era of East India Part 2 in the country? Read how Data War is affecting the lives of Indians.

To understand the intricacies of the #CambridgeAnalyticaIssue, the team of Jan Ki Baat sat down to discuss everything about it. Let us understand what all did our team discuss during the live broadcast.

Initially, it was discussed that when we open an account on any social media or any data analyst platform, there we have to submit our information, that is done from our end and so we cant really say that we can act against such platforms who later on provide this information to a third party.  However, the main issue is related to the alleged leak of information by the party with whom we shared our personal information.

Then our CEO Pradip Bhandari said that the issue of #CambridgeAnalytica could be traced back to an individual who took personal data from several users and then it was sold to Cambridge Analytica and that too without the consent of such users. The wrong was done to the users, as without their prior permission their information was leaked. Things started from there and later on, it started to happen in every part of the part. He said, “We want Facebook to bring all the servers to India. We want control of our data, we want to know the supply chain of data of our shared data.” Co-founder Akriti Bhatia added that things might be happening in the virtual world but the threat is real.

Then we had a talk with Hemant Batra who had recently written an article in which he gave his opinion about the #CambridgeAnalyticaIssue. He told us that there is no doubt that Facebook has written on its confidentiality clause that it understands our “Privacy Concerns” and that it values it but then it goes on to say that our personal information is subject to the data policy of Facebook and they might share our data with the third party in the following cases:- (a)  To improve our (Facebook) services -By sharing our information, Facebook intends to enhance users’ experience, (b) can share the information with the vendors available on the platform – so that the vendors can come up with the products that suit our behaviour & (c) with the data analytic firm – but with our prior permission. But such information must not be shared with any party when such leak of information goes against the public policy (our Contract Law says that any contract which is against public policy is void ab initio and so it cant be enforced). He said that Facebook could be tried in Indian courts as this is a case of breach of data and its Founder Mark Zuckerberg has accepted on the record that such breach of trust has happened and he is apologetic about it. Indian government can try Facebook. Breach of trust is a legal expression.

Pradip Bhandari said that Facebook is nobody to decide what is in our benefit, what all needs to be seen by us or where our information has to be used. Later on, Akriti Bhatia said that time and again it is said that such sharing of information with a third party is done in the name of greater good, but then question that pops up is that who shall decide what is the greater good? By clicking on the submit button, you agree to send your information to a third party, who agrees to use it according to their privacy policy. Pradip Bhandari had to say that if one-day such data is shared with the terriorist organisation, separatists or with an enemy state, then who shall take up the responsibility?

Later on we were joined by Kazim Rizvi ji on the call and he opined that since the servers of Facebook, Google etc are situated outside India, so we cant really trace them or try them for an offence as there would be practical difficulties involved in doing so. We should restrict usage of such platforms over which our laws dont have much control. WE need privacy law as soon as possible and data policy of various platforms must come under the scanner of law. The need is to create an Indian version of Facebook. No one has got the right to use our data without our permission, if anyone does so it would have an adverse effect on our upcoming generations. The need is to regulate Indian laws and their servers must be opened up in our country too.

Akriti Bhatia added that the IT revolution that came in India has now been hijacked by such platforms. Pradip Bhandari said that, “Earlier, we used to fight wars with tanks and missiles but nowadays people steal your data, rig your thinking to change your mindset. Which is a big threat to not only India but to the world.”

In the end, Pradip Bhandari made following points:-

1 – We have been Data Colonised, our data has been lifted without our prior permission and that needs to stop and the culprits must be punished.

2 – We need our Data to be under our control, we have to become a technology giant.

3 – Our data should get back to India. Facebook must be summoned. We must be told that who has access to our personal data and who all have purchased our data from different platforms that we are on.

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