Read our recommendations to @DGCAIndia on the Draft UAS (Drones) Rules. Our main recommendations were the introduction of privacy protecting measures & the prohibition of aerial surveillance. #SaveOurPrivacy
1/n

internetfreedom.in/we-wrote-to-dg…
The draft Unmanned Aircraft System Rules, 2020 were notified on June 2, 2020. An unmanned aircraft system includes a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone, a ground based controller and a system of communications between the two.
2/n

drive.google.com/file/d/1_Jksub…
We have previously sent a legal notice (Ref. No. 143/2019) to the DGCA on December 27, 2019 on the illegal use of drones by the Delhi Police during the December 2019 protests.
3/n

internetfreedom.in/its-a-bird-its…
The Delhi Police also admitted to hiring drones for various purposes over the course of the last few months including the 2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly elections and during the riots in North-East Delhi.
4/n

internetfreedom.in/delhi-police-a…
On May 2, 2020 the MCA issued a conditional exemption wherein they allowed government authorities to procure drones for COVID-19 related activities which included aerial photography and surveillance.
5/n

drive.google.com/file/d/1s4KH7c…
In response, we sent a representation to the MCA and DGCA asking them to recall the conditional exemption and to commence an investigation into the ongoing illegal use of drones by the Delhi Police for mass surveillance.
6/n

internetfreedom.in/the-ongoing-il…
In our submission, firstly we have recommended that certain privacy protecting measures be added into Rule 35 of the draft rules which talks about aerial photography by UAS to ensure that it protects the personally identifiable data of any individual whose image is captured.
7/n
Our second recommendation is related to the insertion of a new rule which would prohibit aerial surveillance by drones for law enforcement purposes and would also prohibit the integration of FRT with drones for the purpose of surveillance.
8/n

inc42.com/buzz/republic-…
Insertion of these rules are necessary in order to regulate aerial surveillance from occurring which leads to the collection of personally identifiable data of individuals over a large field of vision.
9/n
It is important to consider that the privacy right applies even in public spaces and to acts of aerial surveillance since as per the right to privacy judgment. Help us protect your privacy by donating to us or becoming a member with IFF today!
10/n

internetfreedom.in/donate

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More from @internetfreedom

Mar 22
Were you among the millions of @WhatsApp users who got a DM from ‘Viksit Bharat Sampark’? 🫠🫠

The account, seeking feedback on government initiatives, is now barred by the Election Commission from sending messages.
But several concerns persist… (1/10)
internetfreedom.in/whatsapp-messa…
The message, accompanied by a letter from the PM, listed the various schemes and initiatives introduced by the incumbent government and was, in many cases, sent after the ECI released its Model Code of Conduct for upcoming elections. (2/10)
It stirred a storm and how…
First, we wonder how exactly did MeitY secure the contact information of such a large number of people and when/how did it begin using this information for outreach purposes? (3/10)
Read 10 tweets
Mar 20
🚨🚨
Statement:

@GoI_MeitY has notified the @PIBFactCheck of the @MIB_India as the fact-checking unit (FCU) under the IT Amendment Rules, 2023.

The notified FCU will be empowered to flag online “false”, “fake”, or “misleading” information related to the Union govt. 1/9 🧵 Image
The establishment of the FCU less than a month before the country heads for the #GeneralElections2024 could vastly affect the nature of free speech on the internet as it holds the potential to be (mis)used for proactive censorship, most importantly in the context of dissent. 2/9

Link to the PDF:
.content.internetfreedom.in/api/files/divc…
This notification follows the March 13 decision of the Bombay HC, where the Bench refused to restrain the setting up of an FCU until the third Judge decides on the constitutionality of the 2023 Amendment.

This effectively allowed the Union govt to operationalise the FCU, despite its constitutionality being under deliberation before the High Court. 3/9

Read 9 tweets
Mar 12
‼️Indian Railways has floated a tender for the installation of 3.3L facial recognition-enabled CCTV cameras inside railway coaches with a central face-matching server to surveil & identify passengers (adults & children) to ‘curb crime’. (1/7)

internetfreedom.in/indian-railway…
@amofficialCRIS invited tech providers to install FRT-enabled tech with ‘video analytics’ to identify faces & send them to a ‘face matching server’. This lacks legal safeguards, creates a fertile land for misidentification & staff bias, & fails Puttaswamy criteria. (2/7)

CCTV systems enabled with FRT operate in regulatory limbo as there is no legislative basis to use it to combat crime. & there’s the currently inoperational DPDPA which may not adequately regulate CCTV and FRT, leaving individuals' sensitive facial data vulnerable to misuse. (3/7) Image
Read 8 tweets
Mar 1
🚨🔊May I have your attention please. @RailMinIndia is planning to install over 3.3 Lakh facial recognition-enabled CCTV cameras inside 44,038 train coaches across India… and our right to privacy is about to depart from platform number five. 🔊🚆1/7
medianama.com/2024/02/223-in…
With an intent of enhancing security for passengers in trains, @amofficialCRIS has floated a tender for installing CCTV surveillance systems enabled with ‘video analytics’ & facial recognition in coaches & at exit/entry points. 2/7
medianama.com/wp-content/upl…
A face image cropping tool built into the 4 entry/exit CCTV cameras will identify faces of passengers from the camera’s live feed & send the metadata to a central ‘face matching server’ in real time. This ecosystem will collect & store facial data of adult & child passengers alike. 3/7
Read 7 tweets
Dec 23, 2023
Can we catch a break!?
The past few days in the Parliament align on the chaotic bad plane. Suspensions, followed by more suspensions, followed by draconian bills passing without any opposition (because, yk, suspensions). 🎪

Broadcasting Bill, Telecom Bill, & now the criminal reform bills – our digital rights are in deep waters. 1/n

internetfreedom.in/three-new-crim…
This week, both houses passed three bills reshaping the Indian criminal justice system: Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita; Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill; & Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita.

*pulls out Hindi-English dictionary* 2/n

internetfreedom.in/three-new-crim…
The bills were introduced in the Monsoon Session aimed to "decolonise" criminal laws, but actually pose threats to privacy and free speech, as the bills digitise criminal procedures without clear safeguards, & expand executive powers for digital evidence search & seizure. 3/n
Read 8 tweets
Dec 20, 2023
🚨🚨
The Telecom Bill 2023, has been passed in Lok Sabha, despite suspension of approx 100 opposition MPs in the LS. 👇

A repackaged version of the colonial past, the Bill tends to retain draconian surveillance & internet suspension powers. 1/n 👇👇

internetfreedom.in/first-read-tel…
Historically, laws governing telecom services are (mis)used to surveil devices & carry out internet suspensions. 🙅‍♀️🙅‍♀️

Simply replicating provisions from the 1885 law, the Telecom Bill of 2023 may also expand surveillance & suspension powers to online communication services, posing threats to user rights & democratic freedoms. 2/n
For starters, the definitional ambiguity in the bill leaves us worried about its application to internet services (such as @signalapp, @Skype, @gmail, & @WhatsApp), impacting fundamental rights to privacy, freedom of expression, & the right to receive information. 3/n
Read 9 tweets

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