Among the many rights available to citizens of a democracy, privacy is a priceless one, though national security is presented as a reason it cannot be considered an absolute right (“SC wonders whether privacy could be an absolute right,” July 20).
Internet has changed the rules of the game. Every interaction we have with a service provider creates a ‘record’ and there is a possibility of governments being able to access it without a warrant. The politically contested space of the Internet has created new power relationships among citizens, companies and governments. Now, governments of all hues are learning to use technology to protect their interests. Without a ‘right to privacy’, an individual in India may not be any different from those in the many ‘People’s Republics’ and ‘Democratic Republics’ that are democracies only in name.
H.N. Ramakrishna,
Bengaluru
