Privacy in India: Was it There? Will It Be There? ? Happy Privacy Day !
By: A Privacy Activist, a Privacy Lawyer, and a Philosopher (who occasionally meditates on the meaning of life while updating their Aadhaar details)
Activist:
Let’s face it—privacy in India is like that one relative who shows up unannounced during Diwali. You know they exist, but you’re never quite sure when they’ll make an appearance. Historically, privacy in India has been as elusive as a Wi-Fi signal in a remote village. Our homes have always been open to neighbors sniffing whats cooked from the window, popping in for chai, aunties asking about your salary, uncles casually scrolling through your phone gallery, girlfriends peeping over the shoulders in phones for passwords, PIN's and socialmedia notifications. Privacy? What’s that? A luxury for Bollywood stars and politicians, perhaps.
But then, in 2017, the Supreme Court dropped the Puttaswamy judgment like a mic at a rap battle, declaring privacy a fundamental right under the Constitution. Suddenly, privacy was no longer the invisible cousin at the family gathering—it was the guest of honor. But wait, did this mean we finally had privacy? Or did we just get a fancy legal certificate to hang on the wall while our data continued to be auctioned off to the highest bidder?
Lawyer:
As a privacy lawyer, I can confirm that the Puttaswamy judgment was a landmark moment. It was like the Constitution finally said, “Hey, privacy is a thing, and you can’t just ignore it like you ignore your gym membership.” But let’s not get too excited. The judgment was just the beginning of a long, winding road—kind of like the line outside a government office. oh! I forgot like the judgment forgot to define "Privacy" for India, maye be thats kept private too.
Since then, we’ve had the Personal Data Protection Bill (PDP Bill) till DPDPA, which has gone through more drafts than a Bollywood script. It’s been debated, delayed, and debated some more. At this rate, by the time it becomes actual and functional law, we’ll all be uploading our thoughts directly to the cloud via neural implants. The DPDPA aims to protect our data, but let’s be honest—our data is already out there, doing the cha-cha with advertisers, hackers, and maybe even aliens 😂 .
And then there’s Aadhaar. Oh, Aadhaar. The ultimate privacy paradox. It’s like giving everyone a key to your house and then hoping they don’t peek into your fridge. Sure, it’s convenient, but at what cost? Your biometric data floating around in cyberspace, just waiting for a hacker to throw a party.
Philosopher:
Ah, privacy. The eternal philosophical conundrum. In India, privacy has always been a cultural tightrope walk. On one hand, we have the ancient concept of griha pravesh, where even entering someone’s home requires an invitation. On the other hand, we have the modern-day WhatsApp forward, where your personal life is broadcast to 500 people before you can say “delete.”
Is privacy a Western concept? Some argue that in a collectivist society like India, privacy is secondary to community and family. But let’s not confuse collectivism with consent. Just because your auntie knows your GPA doesn’t mean she should have access to your Google search history.
The progression of the right to privacy in India is a fascinating study in balance. It’s like trying to meditate in a crowded marketplace. You know the peace is there, but it’s buried under layers of noise, chaos, and the occasional vegetable vendor yelling, “Lootlo Tamatar Saste Bhaav mein !”
Activist:
So, will privacy ever truly exist in India? Well, that depends. Will we stop sharing our OTPs with random callers claiming to be from “customer care”? Will we stop posting every meal on Instagram? Will we finally read the terms and conditions before clicking “I agree”?
Lawyer:
And will the government actually activate a data protection law that doesn’t have more loopholes than a Bollywood plot?
Philosopher:
And will we, as a society, learn to respect boundaries without feeling personally offended when someone says, “Please don’t forward my number to your cousin’s friend’s neighbor”?
Conclusion:
Privacy in India is a work in progress—a delicate dance between tradition and technology, between chai pe charcha and cyber security. Was it there? Sort of. Will it be there? Hopefully. But until then, let’s celebrate Privacy Day! by changing our passwords, locking our phones, putting webcam cover on mobile and laptop camera, talking less before the phone when not talking on phone and maybe—just maybe—telling that nosy neighbor, “Bhaiya, yeh mera personal aka private matter hai.” बोले तो गोपनीयता की जय !!!!
Happy Privacy Day! May your data stay secure, and your girlfirends, boyfriends and aunties stay curious but respectful.
Disclaimer: No Aadhaar details were harmed in the making of this article.
References Draft DPDP Rules: https://egazette.gov.in/(S(rszckzjqxkns41cjzagebonx))/ViewPDF.aspxDPDP Act 2023: https://www.meity.gov.in/writereaddata/files/Digital%20Personal%20Data%20Protection%20Act%202023.pdf
GDPR : https://gdpr-info.eu/
Reference Blogs :www.cyberlawconsulting.com/blog
Reaching Author : Email - info@cyberlawconsulting.com | Know more about the Author on www.prashantmali.com
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