Digital Policy series: Shashi Tharoor speaks about internet shutdowns, privacy and security

In this fifth episode of our Digital Policy series in collaboration with The Dialogue, Kazim Rizvi speaks to Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament and chairman of the parliamentary committee on IT, about the need and design for a progressive legislative framework.

Talking about data protection, Tharoor points out, “We need to protect the individual citizen, who is the generator of data in this digital ecosystem.” On regulatory systems, he says, “Who should regulate? How to regulate? Should the government be doing the regulation?”

On India’s propensity for internet shutdowns, Tharoor says, “We are by far the record holder for internet shutdowns. You cannot, in the 21st century, allow shutting down the internet to be a kneejerk reflective reaction to any threat, the damage it does in the 21st century to the businesses, to economy...vastly outweigh the potential risk to the small number of people form a terror attack.”

He also speaks about the new intermediary guidelines, the balance between privacy and security, proactive monitoring, independent regulatory models, the idea of freedom of expression and privacy in a just society.

Watch!

Also watch: Digital Policy series: What’s intermediary liability and why you should care about it

Digital Policy series: How will intermediary liability guidelines affect privacy and business?

Digital Policy series: Five ways to ensure intermediary liability doesn’t hurt free speech, privacy

Digital Policy series: Who should be responsible for curbing hate speech and fake news?