2025 Mar 15, 01:40
Bharat’s Parliament has recently passed the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, which will replace outdated laws from 1885, 1933, and 1950. This is significant because until now, Bharat was still being governed by laws from as far back as 1885. According to English media, democracy in India is either in danger or has already died. Any action by a member of the Modi government is seen as a threat to democracy
The passing of the Telecommunications Act was no exception, with media headlines going wild. The media editors seem to be stuck in archaic language from the 19th century. The Hindu, in an article titled "Will new telecom bill streamline the sector?", provided a summary of the reasons behind these claims. One reason is that the act does not allow users to provide false information when obtaining telecom services. Journalists, who are greatly affected by this provision, claim that it is draconian and restricts their ability to do their job by allowing them to provide false information
However, the argument seems baseless as no one should have the right to lie, cheat, or fabricate. Another point of contention is the provision for "legal architecture for mass surveillance and internet shutdowns." The use of complex language makes it seem more intellectual, but the reality is that the controversy surrounding Pegasus, which supposedly targeted 300 phone numbers, has turned out to be false. Even if it were true, the number is minuscule compared to India's population. Additionally, the government is not responsible for private software being used for illegal surveillance. The argument about internet shutdowns is also misleading. Governments all over the world have the power to order internet shutdowns in the interest of public safety, regardless of any bill
The shutdowns in Manipur and J&K, which were mentioned in The Hindu's article, are minor compared to the administrative scale of India's area and population. The Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, rightly pointed out that prioritizing an internet cut over human lives is senseless. It seems that these critics do not value human life and are more interested in promoting violence under the guise of freedom of speech. They fail to realize that the internet can be used for destructive purposes and act surprised when confronted with this fact
They even make false claims about KYC requirements for WhatsApp and other applications, when in reality, KYC is not needed for these services. Overall, the Telecommunications Act brings much-needed changes to the industry and addresses key demands of both the industry and citizens. Despite this, the English media has failed to accurately assess the legislation and has relied on outdated arguments. Fortunately, the people have seen through their claims and have been wise to ignore them.