PPT Speaking notes
"Good morning everyone. Today, we’re going to explore one of the most critical issues of our
digital era: the conflict between privacy and surveillance. This presentation will examine how
our rights, freedoms, and even daily habits are impacted by how much others can see, track,
and use our personal data."
Slide 2: Introduction – Why Are We Talking About This?
"From our phones and laptops to smart TVs and even fridges, almost every device around us
collects data. While this may seem convenient, it poses serious concerns about how much
control we still have over our lives. This talk is about understanding that balance between
enjoying technology and protecting our personal freedom."
Slide 3: What Is Privacy? (And Why Should You Care?)
"Privacy is more than secrecy. It’s about control deciding who knows what about you and
when. Without privacy, we lose our sense of autonomy. Think about it: would you speak freely if
you knew someone was always listening?"
Slide 4: What Happens Without Privacy?
"When privacy is gone, freedom goes with it. You might be unfairly judged by your digital
footprint. You could be denied opportunities based on something as trivial as your search
history. It’s not just about hiding — it’s about protecting yourself from harm and misuse."
Slide 5: Who’s Watching You?
"There are multiple layers of watchers — governments, companies, hackers, and sometimes
even the apps we install. Each of them gathers data for different reasons, but the outcome is
the same: you are constantly being tracked."
Slide 6: Let’s Define Surveillance
“Surveillance today is more than just CCTVs or wiretaps. It includes monitoring our calls,
texts, internet use, location, and even social media activity. Let’s break it down into three
types:
1. Mass Surveillance – This targets the entire population, not specific suspects. It's done
using tools like internet monitoring systems, CCTVs, and even mobile tower data
collection — all in the name of national security.
2. Targeted Surveillance – This is supposed to focus on individuals under suspicion —
like a terror suspect or criminal. But it still needs to follow certain legal steps.
Unfortunately, many such operations, like Pegasus spyware use, have allegedly
bypassed those safeguards.
3. Lateral Surveillance – This is when ordinary people monitor each other — like when
we record strangers in public or report a controversial tweet. With social media, this has
become common, sometimes even toxic.
So while surveillance may sometimes be legal, what matters is: Is it justified? Is it
necessary? Is it ethical? That’s the real question.”
Slide 7: Tools of Digital Surveillance in India
“India has some of the world’s most powerful surveillance systems — many of which operate
without our consent. Let me explain what each tool does:
● CMS – Central Monitoring System: Allows the government to intercept telecom data
— calls, texts, and emails — without even asking the telecom provider.
● NATGRID – National Intelligence Grid: Combines 21 databases — from banks,
passport offices, railways — to build a complete profile of any citizen. Accessible by
agencies like IB, RAW, NIA.
● NETRA – Network Traffic Analysis System: Scans internet traffic using keywords like
‘bomb’, ‘attack’, etc. Even private chats or encrypted emails can be flagged.
● AFRS – Automated Facial Recognition System: Matches live CCTV footage with
government photo databases. Used by police for tracking and surveillance.
● CCTNS – Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems: Connects police
stations across India to share criminal data and reports.
● AASMA – Advanced Application for Social Media Analytics: Monitors public mood
and location tagging on social media. Used to predict protests or unrest.
While these tools help with national security, their use without strong legal safeguards puts
individual privacy at serious risk.”
Slide 8: What Does the Law Say in India?
“India has multiple laws that allow surveillance — but most of them don’t require prior court
approval. Here's why that’s a problem:
● Under the Indian Telegraph Act, the government can intercept phone calls during a
'public emergency' or for 'public safety' — but that order is given by a Secretary in the
Home Ministry, not a judge. Courts are not involved upfront.
● The IT Act (Section 69) allows similar power to intercept or decrypt data — again, the
approval comes from executive authorities.
● Even the CrPC (Section 91) allows the police to demand documents without needing to
go to a magistrate first.
So most surveillance in India is controlled by the executive branch of the government, not by
independent judges. That means very little external oversight — and that’s where the risk of
misuse comes in.”
Slide 9: Landmark Cases That Shaped Privacy Law
"These court cases laid the foundation for privacy rights in India. From basic phone tapping
guidelines to affirming privacy as a fundamental right, each case shaped our current
understanding and helped protect our digital freedoms."
Slide 10: The Puttaswamy Judgment – Game Changer
"This was a historic turning point. The Supreme Court said that privacy is part of the right to life.
But it also set conditions: the government can restrict privacy only if there’s a legal reason, a
clear necessity, and proportionality — meaning no excessive intrusion."
Slide 11: Pegasus Spyware – Are We Safe?
"Pegasus was used to secretly hack into phones of journalists, lawyers, and opposition figures.
It could turn on your mic and camera — without you knowing. The fact that this was allegedly
used by governments raised huge concerns about unchecked surveillance."
Slide 12: WhatsApp’s 2021 Privacy Policy – What Was the Big Deal?
"In 2021, WhatsApp told users they had to agree to share more data with Facebook — or stop
using the app. This forced consent caused massive backlash. People felt cornered, and millions
switched to Signal and Telegram."
Slide 13: VPN Rules (2022) – Is Privacy Dead?
"VPNs are used to browse the internet safely and anonymously. But new Indian rules require
VPN companies to store your data for 5 years. Many major providers left the country, saying
they couldn’t protect user privacy anymore."
Slide 14: Personalized Ads – Helpful or Creepy?
"Ever searched for something and immediately saw ads for it everywhere? That’s
personalization. It can be helpful, but it also shows how closely you’re being watched — often
without fully knowing what you’ve agreed to."
Slide 15: The Dark Web – Where Does Our Stolen Data Go?
"The dark web is where stolen personal data ends up — credit cards, Aadhaar numbers,
passwords. It's a dangerous place, and once your data is there, it's nearly impossible to
remove. The key question is: how well are companies and governments protecting our data
from ending up there?"
Slide 16: Is Public Vlogging a Privacy Violation?
"Filming in public is usually legal. But focusing on someone without consent — especially to
shame or mock them — can become a legal and ethical issue. The safest thing to do? Respect
others, blur faces, and always respond kindly if someone objects."
Slide 17: How the EU Does It Better (GDPR)
"Europe’s GDPR law is one of the strongest privacy laws in the world. It forces companies to
ask for your permission, explain how your data is used, and let you delete it. India’s laws are far
behind in comparison."
Slide 18: USA – Surveillance in the Name of Security
"The US also struggles with balancing national security and privacy. In key cases, courts ruled
that police need a warrant to track phones or use GPS. This shows how even democracies
must regularly re-check their boundaries."
Slide 19: Facebook and Cambridge Analytica – What Happened?
"This scandal showed how our personal data could be misused without us even knowing.
Facebook users didn’t know that their quiz data — and their friends’ data — was being used to
target voters and influence elections. It was a huge breach of trust and a wake-up call globally."
Slide 20: What’s Broken in Indian Law?
“Let’s talk about one of the biggest problems: the use of vague terms like 'public safety'.
● These phrases appear in the Telegraph Act and IT Act, which allow the government to
intercept our data.
● But here’s the issue: there is no legal definition for ‘public emergency’ in these laws.
● That means the government gets to decide what counts as an emergency — without
needing to prove it in court.
● In fact, the Supreme Court in PUCL v. Union of India criticized this vagueness and
demanded safeguards.
The danger is clear: peaceful protests, dissent, or even online criticism could be labeled as
threats to ‘public safety’ — and surveillance powers could be misused. That’s why we say the
law is broken — not because surveillance isn’t needed, but because it’s unchecked and
undefined.”
Slide 21: Are We Sacrificing Democracy?
"A watched society is not a free society. When people fear being monitored, they stop speaking
freely. Surveillance should never be used to silence dissent — but that’s the risk we face."
Slide 22: Should Surveillance Be Stopped or Reformed?
"Surveillance is sometimes necessary — to prevent crime or protect national security. But it
must be limited, transparent, and accountable. Otherwise, we risk living in a surveillance
state."
Slide 23: What Needs Fixing in Indian Laws?
"We need strong data protection laws with clear limits on what the government and private
companies can do. Oversight by courts, and public awareness, must be built into the system."
Slide 24: What Can Technology Do to Help?
"Technology can protect us — if we use it wisely. Encryption, anonymous browsers, and open-
source software can guard against tracking. We also need ethical AI that’s designed to respect
privacy by default."
Slide 25: The Role of Civil Society
"Activists, journalists, and civil rights lawyers play a huge role in defending privacy. They bring
cases to court, raise public awareness, and hold powerful institutions accountable."
Slide 26: Can Judiciary Save Privacy?
"The courts have stood up for privacy before — in Puttaswamy, in PUCL. But they must keep
doing so. Judiciary must act as the final guardian when the state overreaches."
Slide 27: Can We Find a Balance?
"Security and privacy aren’t enemies — we can have both. But only if laws are strong, tech is
ethical, and people stay informed."
Slide 28: What the Future Needs
"The future demands clear, transparent surveillance policies — with strong protections and
independent oversight. This isn’t just about laws; it’s about how we define freedom."
Slide 29: Final Thought – It’s Our Choice
“To wrap up — privacy and surveillance are not just policy issues. They’re personal. The real
challenge is to demand safety without giving up dignity. We must work towards a system that
protects both.
Thank you for listening.
👉 Do you have any questions or thoughts you’d like to share?
I’d love to hear your perspective.”
