A Telegram Bot Is Selling Indians’ Personal Data for ₹2.50 Per Search
Twenty-three-year-old Maryam Siddiqui (name changed) was trying to leave her family, where she said she had been facing harassment from an extended family member. She left her home in a small town in Bihar and travelled to Patna without informing her parents. After searching for her for ten days and filing a police complaint, her family was advised by a friend to use a bot that illegally tracks a person’s exact location, provides detailed coordinates and reveals sensitive personal information.
Should the Government Be Allowed to Track Our Location Without Consent?
The central government is weighing a proposal to require smartphone manufacturers to keep satellite-based location tracking permanently active on all devices sold in the country. This would allow law enforcement and investigative agencies to access our precise, real-time location data, a step no other country has taken so far.
Your WhatsApp and Telegram Will Soon Lock Without Active SIM
The government has announced a sweeping rule that will affect how you use apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal and others. These apps will stop working the moment you remove your SIM card, switch phones, or try to access them on a second device without the SIM. The rule gives the government the power to link all your communication activity to your physical identity and location at all times, with no clear safeguards.
Tax Bill Allows Govt to Access Emails, Social Media, Bank Accounts
Starting April 1, 2026, the Income Tax Department will have the authority to access individuals’ digital spaces—including social media accounts, personal emails, bank accounts and online investment platforms—if they suspect tax evasion or possession of undisclosed assets.
Must Every Student in India Obtain Apaar ID?
The central government appears to be aggressively promoting the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (Apaar), saying it aims to streamline academic tracking through unique student IDs and a comprehensive database. However, the risks and challenges associated with this system, coupled with the government’s alleged coercive tactics to secure state compliance, cast doubt on its overall benefits.
WhatsApp Wins Privacy Case Against Pegasus Spyware in US
In a landmark decision, a U.S. court has ruled in favour of WhatsApp, holding the Israeli spyware maker NSO Group directly liable for targeting about 1,400 users with its Pegasus spyware, including over 300 Indian mobile numbers.
Should Citizens Bear the Burden of Proving Unauthorised Government Surveillance?
In response to mercenary spyware threat notifications—likely from Pegasus spyware, with the government as a probable suspect—received by opposition politicians, activists and journalists from Apple, the government reportedly plans to require the victims to prove any breaches themselves and through a government agency.
Uttarakhand Govt Must Not Enter Our Bedroom
The Uttarakhand government has introduced a bill mandating residents, whether they are from the state or not, to register their live-in relationships with district authorities. This move starkly contravenes the essential respect for individual freedoms, contradicts legal precedents established by the Supreme Court of India, challenges societal norms and raises questions about governance practices.
Who’s Watching Your Phone?
Imagine you’re having a casual conversation on your phone, completely unaware that someone might be listening in. No, it’s not a jealous partner or a nosy neighbour; it’s far more insidious. Recent notifications from tech giant Apple to politicians, activists and journalists reveal that even our trusted smartphones are not beyond the reach of unwarranted surveillance.
India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Law Undermines Democracy
A law, purportedly aimed at safeguarding the personal data of Indian citizens, passed recently. However, critics argue that the legislation could serve as a tool to stifle investigative reporting and limit public access to information.