Your computer could be on govt watch list

Your computer could soon be monitored. The Union Home Ministry, according to a notification, has authorised 10 central security agencies to intercept, monitor and decrypt "any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer".The ministry has vested the authority on the agencies under Section 69 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Rule 4 of the Information Technology Procedure and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring and Decryption of Information) Rules, 2009.Who are these agencies?The 10 agencies include Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Control Bureau, Enforcement Directorate, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence;, Central Bureau of Investigation, National Investigation Agency Cabinet Secretariat (RAW), Directorate of Signal Intelligence (For service areas of Jammu & Kashmir, North-East and Assam only), and Commissioner of Police, Delhi.According to an NDTV report, which quoted a senior bureacucrat, only data in motion could be intercepted earlier. "But now data revived, stored and generated can also be intercepted as powers of seizure have been given," the bureaucrat told NDTV. 67188940 "This means not just calls or emails, but any data found on a computer can be intercepted. The agencies will also have powers to seize the devices," the report added. As per the report, earlier IB had no power to seize devices but now it can.The notification says the subscriber or service provider or any person in charge of the computer resource will have to extend all facilities and technical assistance to the agencies, else they can be fined and even imprisoned for up to seven years.Meanwhile, Congress said that the move is "extremely worrisome"."The sweeping powers given to agencies to snoop phone calls and computers without any checks and balances is extremely worrisome. This is likely to be misused," Congress leader Ahmed Patel told ANI.

from Economic Times http://bit.ly/2SdEisp