US Academics Raise Concerns Over 'Digital India' Campaign
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Silicon Valley to promote 'Digital India' campaign, more than 100 prominent US-based academics have raised privacy concerns about the project.
In a statement, these academics, said 'Digital India' seems to ignore key questions raised in India by critics concerned about the collection of personal information and the near certainty that such digital systems will be used to enhance surveillance and repress the constitutionally-protected rights of citizens.
"We are concerned that the project's potential for increased transparency in bureaucratic dealings with people is threatened by its lack of safeguards about privacy of information, and thus its potential for abuse," said the statement signed by about 137 academics, a significant majority of whom are of Indian-origin.