The right to privacy is one of the most cherished rights that an individual holds. It ensures him freedom from interference of all sorts and helps him lead a healthy, productive life. Privacy means that the individual shall have a right to do his work or lead his life the way he wants in his own personal space. It protects him from all sorts of State or private interference while at the same time allowing him to enjoy his freedoms. The right to privacy is part of the right to life and liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. Article 21 protects the individual space of a person and protects him from unnecessary interference in his life and activities.
The right to privacy in cyber space is not that well protected. An individual loses his privacy when he enters into digital transactions or creates social media accounts. Often the mobile phone applications 'apps' track and store his movements and those are shared with the corporate giants. Entertainment channels like Youtube, Netflix or the rest save his history, on one hand providing him a more 'personalised' experience while at the other sharing with the parent company.
Having strict digital security laws can help protect an individual from a variety of crimes ranging from cyber bullying, cyber stalking to economic frauds and protecting children from pedophiles or kidnapping in real world. Being vigilant with one's passwords and not using public devices or avoiding public wifi is helpful in protecting an individual to an extent.
However, along with the issues of individual privacy come the issues of public security. While protecting the individual privacy the State has the duty to protect the individuals from attempts at breach of security. The issues of monitoring elements that can destroy the very fabric of society by causing disruption in peace and security are also important. However, public security cannot be used as a cover to harass minorities or religious or political opponents, rather it should be monitored diligently without causing damage to the freedoms of innocent individuals.
Thus, the right to privacy is an important right that should be protected against all odds while at the same time not compromising on the public security. The question of how much privacy can individuals give up in order to maintain a strong, peaceful society is always open.
The right to privacy in cyber space is not that well protected. An individual loses his privacy when he enters into digital transactions or creates social media accounts. Often the mobile phone applications 'apps' track and store his movements and those are shared with the corporate giants. Entertainment channels like Youtube, Netflix or the rest save his history, on one hand providing him a more 'personalised' experience while at the other sharing with the parent company.
Having strict digital security laws can help protect an individual from a variety of crimes ranging from cyber bullying, cyber stalking to economic frauds and protecting children from pedophiles or kidnapping in real world. Being vigilant with one's passwords and not using public devices or avoiding public wifi is helpful in protecting an individual to an extent.
However, along with the issues of individual privacy come the issues of public security. While protecting the individual privacy the State has the duty to protect the individuals from attempts at breach of security. The issues of monitoring elements that can destroy the very fabric of society by causing disruption in peace and security are also important. However, public security cannot be used as a cover to harass minorities or religious or political opponents, rather it should be monitored diligently without causing damage to the freedoms of innocent individuals.
Thus, the right to privacy is an important right that should be protected against all odds while at the same time not compromising on the public security. The question of how much privacy can individuals give up in order to maintain a strong, peaceful society is always open.
