News for 'digital surveillance'

What's wrong in using spyware against terrorists, asks SC

What's wrong in using spyware against terrorists, asks SC

Rediff.com29 Apr 2025

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday questioned the issue of using "spyware against terrorists" and stated that any report touching upon the country's "security and sovereignty" won't be made public. The court indicated it might address individual concerns regarding privacy breaches, but the report of the technical committee would not be a document for public discussion. The court will examine the extent to which the report can be shared publicly. The court's statement came during a hearing on a petition related to the alleged use of Pegasus spyware for surveillance. The court also emphasized that "having spyware is not wrong, against whom you are using is the question" and that the security of the nation cannot be compromised. The hearing has been adjourned to July 30.

AI plane crash death toll hits 270 as families wait for bodies

AI plane crash death toll hits 270 as families wait for bodies

Rediff.com14 Jun 2025

The process of identification of victims by matching the DNA samples is currently underway, and the bodies will be handed over to their relatives once the process is complete.

Microsoft Techie Quits Over Israel's Actions

Microsoft Techie Quits Over Israel's Actions

Rediff.com8 Apr 2025

Vaniya Agarwal says Friday April 11 will be her last day at Microsoft

Image on TVs scared Saif suspect, planned to flee to Bangladesh

Image on TVs scared Saif suspect, planned to flee to Bangladesh

Rediff.com20 Jan 2025

A Bangladeshi national, identified as Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir, has been arrested in Mumbai for allegedly stabbing actor Saif Ali Khan. The suspect, who had been living in Mumbai for over five months, panicked after seeing his image on news channels and planned to flee to Bangladesh. Police tracked him down after analyzing CCTV footage and digital payment records.

Houses razed, hundreds held in post-Pahalgam crackdown

Houses razed, hundreds held in post-Pahalgam crackdown

Rediff.com26 Apr 2025

Authorities in Kashmir have launched a massive crackdown on terrorists and their sympathisers in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, razing homes of the ultras, raiding their safe havens and detaining hundreds of overground workers for questioning, officials said on Saturday.

Inside India's new Digital Personal Data Protection framework

Inside India's new Digital Personal Data Protection framework

Rediff.com13 Aug 2023

A new law that defines how companies should process users' data came into force with the President giving assent to the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act passed by Parliament in the just-concluded monsoon session. The law arms individuals with greater control over their data while allowing companies to transfer users' data abroad for processing, except to nations and territories restricted by the Centre through notification. It also gives the government power to seek information from firms and issue directions to block content.

Digital Rupee: Pros And Cons

Digital Rupee: Pros And Cons

Rediff.com4 Feb 2022

'The Digital Rupee will be equal to the Indian rupee in value and backed by the full faith and credit of the RBI/Indian government.'

What Is A Front-Running Scam?

What Is A Front-Running Scam?

Rediff.com4 Jan 2025

Front-running is a fraudulent practice where traders exploit advance knowledge of large client orders for personal profit.

Database State to Surveillance State

Database State to Surveillance State

Rediff.com31 Jan 2017

The plan of UID/Aadhaar-based surveillance does not end with the collection of fingerprints and iris scan, it goes quite beyond it and poses a lethal threat to the idea of India, says Gopal Krishna.

Report on Chinese surveillance: Cong calls on govt to step up efforts on cyber security

Report on Chinese surveillance: Cong calls on govt to step up efforts on cyber security

Rediff.com14 Sep 2020

A report in the Indian Express claimed that the range of targets in India identified and monitored in real time by Zhenhua Data Information Technology Co Limited was "sweeping" and included President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress' interim president Sonia Gandhi, and their families, as well as several chief ministers, among others.

UPSC to go hi-tech with AI, facial recognition for cheat-free exams

UPSC to go hi-tech with AI, facial recognition for cheat-free exams

Rediff.com24 Jun 2024

The Commission has desired to incorporate Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication (else digital fingerprint capturing) and facial recognition of candidates, scanning of QR Code of e-admit cards and monitoring through live AI-based CCTV video surveillance, it said.

How IAF plans to strengthen 'depleted' squadron

How IAF plans to strengthen 'depleted' squadron

Rediff.com18 Dec 2024

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has seen a reduction in fighter squadrons due to the phasing out of ageing MiG-21, MiG-23 and MiG-27 aircraft. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence acknowledged the "shortage" and highlighted the multi-pronged approach being taken to address it. This includes the induction of indigenous Tejas fighters and the procurement of additional LCA Mk-1A aircraft. The report also addresses concerns over "incidences of spying" within the IAF and details the action taken against those involved.

Blue Economy Needs Strong Navy Protection

Blue Economy Needs Strong Navy Protection

Rediff.com7 Jan 2025

Naval assets take years to build, and therefore, not only is futuristic force planning essential, but indigenous projects must also be put into the pipeline, technologies developed and contracts for assets signed regularly so that the Indian Navy always remains a future-focussed force, asserts Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).

Aadhaar neither creates surveillance state nor violates privacy: UIDAI

Aadhaar neither creates surveillance state nor violates privacy: UIDAI

Rediff.com26 Sep 2018

"Aadhaar Act has withstood the judicial scrutiny and the purpose of the Act is legitimate," it said.

How Government Is Making Use Of AI

How Government Is Making Use Of AI

Rediff.com9 Oct 2024

The National Informatics Centre uses AI to automate document analysis and detect fraud in government departments.

Killer heatwave: 110 dead, over 40k cases of stroke reported

Killer heatwave: 110 dead, over 40k cases of stroke reported

Rediff.com20 Jun 2024

The unrelenting heatwave sweeping large parts of the country has claimed at least 110 lives and left over 40,000 people grappling with suspected heatstroke between March 1 and June 18 this year, health ministry sources said on Thursday.

How Will History Remember Chandrachud?

How Will History Remember Chandrachud?

Rediff.com2 Dec 2024

He could have blazed a trail that few Indian judges had. It was a missed opportunity of a lifetime, notes Ramesh Menon.

Setting up social media hub is like creating surveillance state: SC

Setting up social media hub is like creating surveillance state: SC

Rediff.com13 Jul 2018

The top court said the government wants to tap citizens' WhatsApp messages and sought its response within two weeks.

How Banks Plan To Tackle 'Mule' Fraud

How Banks Plan To Tackle 'Mule' Fraud

Rediff.com8 Aug 2024

'A mule operates someone else's account to transfer illegal money.'

UP deploys STF, CCTV camera surveillance for copy-free board exams

UP deploys STF, CCTV camera surveillance for copy-free board exams

Rediff.com16 Feb 2023

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also issued instructions to book those found involved in facilitating cheating during examinations under the National Security Act, the statement said.

NRC, NPR, Aadhaar are part of huge surveillance plan

NRC, NPR, Aadhaar are part of huge surveillance plan

Rediff.com31 Dec 2019

'This updated NPR database along with Aadhaar Number would become the mother database and can be used by various government departments...' the home ministry declared in July 2015. 'UID/Aadhaar has been used as a fish bait to ensnare and entrap present and future generations of citizens,' warns Gopal Krishna.

2 held for firing outside Salman's house, were hired by Bishnoi gang

2 held for firing outside Salman's house, were hired by Bishnoi gang

Rediff.com16 Apr 2024

Two persons including a man who allegedly opened fire outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan's residence in Mumbai have been arrested from Gujarat, police said on Tuesday.

Centre scraps social media hub after 'surveillance state' remark

Centre scraps social media hub after 'surveillance state' remark

Rediff.com3 Aug 2018

Trinamool Congress MLA Mahua Moitra alleged that the Centre's social media hub policy was to be used as a tool to monitor social media activities of the citizens and should be quashed.

Aadhaar: Data everywhere, little left to steal

Aadhaar: Data everywhere, little left to steal

Rediff.com26 Sep 2018

'Every Indian citizen is already exposed to massive digital surveillance and most are already vulnerable to data theft and cyber-impersonation as well,' points out Devangshu Datta.

Covid still a threat, new variant under scanner: WHO chief

Covid still a threat, new variant under scanner: WHO chief

Rediff.com18 Aug 2023

Director-General of World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus on Friday said though COVID-19 is no longer a health emergency for the world, it is still a 'global health threat' and a new variant of coronavirus is already under the scanner.

LS passes exam malpractices bill, students exempted, says govt

LS passes exam malpractices bill, students exempted, says govt

Rediff.com6 Feb 2024

AAP leader and Delhi minister Atishi made the allegations against the agency at a press conference and called the entire probe a "scam" in itself.

Terrorists using 'calculator' to avoid surveillance by army

Terrorists using 'calculator' to avoid surveillance by army

Rediff.com6 Jun 2016

The technology is based on the concept of 'cognitive digital radio' that enables users to turn their smartphones into peer-to-peer, off-grid communication tools.

India 15th in top 25 AI nations but has 'greatest upward potential'

India 15th in top 25 AI nations but has 'greatest upward potential'

Rediff.com27 Dec 2023

India may be 15th among the top 25 Artificial Intelligence nations, but it has the 'the greatest upward potential' according to research by Tufts University's business school, the Fletcher School. At the top is the US, followed by China, fighting for global leadership in AI followed by the UK, Japan, and Germany. In the 15th spot, India is ahead of Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, Mexico, Turkey, Indonesia and Thailand.

1,226 cases of JN.1 found in India so far, Karnataka, Andhra top list

1,226 cases of JN.1 found in India so far, Karnataka, Andhra top list

Rediff.com18 Jan 2024

A total of 1,226 cases of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 have been reported in the country so far with Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh recording the highest number of cases till now, according to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) on Thursday.

Smart phone, unsmart user: Kidnapper accepts ransom via UPI, arrested

Smart phone, unsmart user: Kidnapper accepts ransom via UPI, arrested

Rediff.com26 Jun 2023

A 30-year-old man, who had kidnapped a child and taken the ransom via UPI on his mobile wallet, has been arrested by the Noida police who used his digital footprints to trace him, officials said on Monday.

Personal Data Protection

Personal Data Protection

Rediff.com28 Aug 2023

Ajit Balakrishnan offers a thinking person's guide.

10 Buzz Phrases That Defined The Workplace

10 Buzz Phrases That Defined The Workplace

Rediff.com13 Dec 2022

Trends that added colour to workplace culture in 2022.

Indian-origin family of 4 found dead in New Jersey, police call it murder

Indian-origin family of 4 found dead in New Jersey, police call it murder

Rediff.com6 Oct 2023

An Indian-origin couple and their two children were found dead in their home in the US state of New Jersey and the police are investigating the matter as a homicide.

SC panels moot amending laws to guard citizens' privacy, nation's cyber security

SC panels moot amending laws to guard citizens' privacy, nation's cyber security

Rediff.com25 Aug 2022

The Supreme Court-appointed committees, entrusted with the probe of unauthorised use of Pegasus, have given a slew of recommendations including amending laws to protect citizens' right to privacy and ensure the nation's cyber security.

CBI charges journo, ex-Navy commander with violating OSA

CBI charges journo, ex-Navy commander with violating OSA

Rediff.com12 Jul 2023

In its chargesheet filed before a special court in New Delhi, the CBI has named Raghuvanshi and Pathak as accused in the alleged violation of the Official Secrets Act and related offences, they said.

'Imagine hostile forces getting their hands on data'

'Imagine hostile forces getting their hands on data'

Rediff.com22 Jun 2023

'Maybe the State wants to be watching people all the time. But when they are watching, others too may be watching!' 'The State is becoming more and more secretive while throwing people to the wolves.'

Data Breach: 'Government is always in denial'

Data Breach: 'Government is always in denial'

Rediff.com22 Jun 2023

'Why does a State that sees a national security issue at every turn not recognise the seriousness of the data from sensitive databases being breached?'

Boost to India's military prowess, Rs 76,390cr worth equipment okayed

Boost to India's military prowess, Rs 76,390cr worth equipment okayed

Rediff.com6 Jun 2022

The procurement proposals were approved by the Defence Acquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the ministry said.

'Mumbai will always be vulnerable'

'Mumbai will always be vulnerable'

Rediff.com6 Dec 2023

'If we have to restrict and fight terrorism, first and foremost, we have to ensure communal harmony in the country.'

Why the anti-Digital India petition must be called out

Why the anti-Digital India petition must be called out

Rediff.com22 Sep 2015

'The anti-Digital India campaign is a vindictive hatchet job rather than a fact based, rationally sound appraisal; a personal attack rather than issue based criticism; an ideological assault rather than altruistic effort. It must be called out for what it is,' says Vivek Gumaste.