The internet has brought as many anxieties as it has advantages. Even though the internet appears to be a decentralized system, who actually holds the “web-strings” remains a mystery. Born in an American military lab, the internet hasn’t truly severed its American roots to gain total independence. Through most global “services,” American spy agencies remain active, enjoying “backdoor” entry into vast storehouses of information. Your Gmail and Yahoo messages aren’t known only to you; like a letter written on a postcard, they are visible to the respective companies. Spying agencies, too, have the opportunity to read and copy them.
It is well known that years ago, Edward Snowden revealed how all “social media” platforms were working in tandem with the NSA (National Security Agency) under Project PRISM. These companies were collecting the complete jaataka (horoscope/life-history) of users and handing it over to the NSA. Today, from Big Tech and web hosting companies to AI firms, social media, the SWIFT payment network, undersea cables, mobile networks, and even the operating systems of modern cars—everything carries the “infection” of American espionage. There are reports of official spies working inside many of these companies.
Be aware: the most important role in Big Tech today isn’t just the engineer; it’s the Behavioral Psychologist. They play the lead role in crafting algorithms. Their job is to make a service feel “inevitable,” to ensure you never lose interest once you sign up, and to trap you in a state of helpless addiction. They are designed to make you say “yes” to providing details you initially withheld. The world’s sharpest minds are working day and night to bring you to this state of dependency—and that is why they are paid massive salaries. Digital addiction has become like drug addiction.
Here is a small proof that this “illicit affair” (which is quite direct) continues: Recently, the U.S. government made it mandatory for anyone applying for a visa to provide all social media handles used in the last five years. Even if you have deleted an account, you must provide the details! If not, you are disqualified from ever getting a visa. Let’s set aside the “national security” justification for a moment. What we must observe is how providing a username hands over your entire jaataka to the U.S. government. Even if an account is deleted, your posts, locations, likes, family details, and purchase history are transferred. It highlights how social media companies still work hand-in-glove with American agencies.
Some argue that these companies didn’t just join American agencies; rather, the agencies are the reason for their birth and growth—created specifically to harvest the world’s data. There is indirect evidence for this. One Google or Apple ID is enough to track your movements, private affairs, and every activity.
Realizing this, China followed the American path and went even further. Most of the world’s CCTV cameras and phones are Chinese. Every face captured is transferred to Chinese agencies. They have mapped out details to the point where a spy’s computer can identify any person walking on a street! While we are wary of Chinese spying, we don’t seem bothered by the Americans.
This is the era of espionage. No one can escape the eyes and ears of the spies. In the name of national security, this has become somewhat inevitable. For instance, your Aadhaar data and UPI financial details are instantly available to relevant authorities. While tolerating some “harmless” data transfer within the limits of our own country’s laws and courts is a “necessary karma” of these times, what kind of karma is it to hand over everything to foreign companies and spies, knowingly or unknowingly?
India now has nearly 100 crore (1 billion) internet users. How many are aware of data privacy? Most have a “devil-may-care” attitude, saying, “What do I have to hide? If they ask, I’ll tell them myself.” The necessity of internet services has psychologically conditioned people to believe that these risks aren’t risks at all. “I have nothing to hide” has become a collective mental state.
Be aware: the most important role in Big Tech today isn’t just the engineer; it’s the Behavioral Psychologist. They play the lead role in crafting algorithms. Their job is to make a service feel “inevitable,” to ensure you never lose interest once you sign up, and to trap you in a state of helpless addiction. They are designed to make you say “yes” to providing details you initially withheld. The world’s sharpest minds are working day and night to bring you to this state of dependency—and that is why they are paid massive salaries. Digital addiction has become like drug addiction.
Furthermore, you might have used a Gmail ID as your “official ID” for years, giving it to offices and linking it to Aadhaar. In our country, even official government business often happens over Gmail and WhatsApp! Our officials (and ministers) haven’t yet shown the “wisdom” to create and use a dedicated, indigenous official email network. It doesn’t cost much, but ignorance and apathy hold us back. Even if you want to change your digital ID now, the practical hurdles are huge. You have been pushed into a massive pit from which it’s hard to climb out. Before Gmail, there were many indigenous services; providers like VSNL offered email. Now, everyone is on Gmail. To climb out of this pit, we first need awareness of the reality.
To some, medical reports, loan details, court matters, and photos might not feel like “private info.” Some may feel their household matters are public property. “Who is interested in me?” they ask. True, the CIA or NSA doesn’t have the time to look into a specific “Thimmadasayya” (common man). Their interest is in Big Data. Analyzing the life details of 1 billion Indians is what matters to foreign powers. While “Macro Information” is more valuable to them, they can easily dig up Thimmadasayya’s jaataka whenever they wish.
Technology control and data collection are today’s most vital geopolitical weapons. When the Russia-Ukraine war began, Russia was kicked out of the SWIFT network. The U.S. banned Kaspersky antivirus, alleging it spies for Russia, while Russia suspects American software like Norton or McAfee are tools for the U.S. The CEO of Telegram was arrested in Europe. It is now common to promote tech companies that serve your interests and attack those that don’t. In India, apart from a few banned Chinese apps, all other companies are comfortably harvesting data. We don’t have our own operating system (the military has one). We have no choice but Windows, macOS, or Android. Even though BharOS was developed, no one uses it. The award-winning ‘Ulaa’ browser has few takers. We have a few domestic mobile companies, but no domestic chipsets.
Military tech alone isn’t enough. For national security, our daily-use technology must be entirely our own (Atmanirbhar). Our data must stay in our country—that is Data Localization. It must be under our control—that is Data Sovereignty. India has made laws for this, but the tragedy is that most large Indian internet firms work in partnership with American Big Tech or have foreign investment. Fully indigenous companies like Zoho Corporation are rare. Whether it is our government or our companies, our personal details should not be in the hands of others. Our data must stay with us. That is Data Privacy. It is our right. In 2017, the Supreme Court recognized it as a Fundamental Right.
Author
