Lawyers, activists, and civil society members participate in the round table discussion on security, surveillance, and privacy concerns
Team Clarion
HYDERABAD – The growing surveillance and intrusion by the state and the corporates into the privacy of civilians is alarming, a recent round table meeting in Hyderabad said.
The event “Security & Surveillance: Challenges to Privacy and Citizen Rights in Telangana,” organised by the Hyderabad chapter of the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO), was attended by activists, legal experts, and civil society members to deliberate on the crucial intersection of security, surveillance, and privacy.
SIO Hyderabad Secretary Adv. Abdus Sami opened the discussion and expressed his dismay at the intrusion of the privacy of civilians by the state and the corporate sector.
SQ Masood, an RTI activist and legal expert, emphasised the role of transparency and public access to information in protecting privacy. He urged civil society to remain vigilant in demanding accountability from authorities, asserting that privacy protections would remain superficial without public participation.
Srinivas Kodali, researcher, and tech activist, spoke about the increasing influence of surveillance capitalism, where personal data is exploited for commercial gain. He highlighted how digital surveillance in policing led to the detriment of individual freedoms.
Naseer Giyas, an independent journalist and Director of Owaisi School of Excellence, addressed the human rights implications of mass surveillance and highlighted the suffering of marginalised communities. He spoke about the media’s role in exposing these practices and emphasised the need for independent journalism to hold powerful entities accountable.
Khaleda Parveen, a prominent activist, specifically addressed the Khadeer Khan case, which has raised significant concerns about the misuse of surveillance technology.
Abdul Aziz, President of the Movement for Peace & Justice (MPJ), discussed the ethical concerns surrounding intrusive surveillance, questioning whether society is willing to compromise its moral values for the sake of security.
Senior advocate of the Telangana High Court, Shafiq ur Rahman Mahajir, provided a legal perspective on security and surveillance, stressing the necessity of judicial oversight to prevent these systems from infringing on fundamental rights. He cautioned that unchecked surveillance could become a dangerous tool for violating civil liberties.
Laeeq Ahmed Khan Aqil, Assistant National Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, concluded the session by emphasising the need for a vigilant and proactive role from civilians in addressing these issues. He spoke about the importance of mass sensitisation and social movements to curb the risks associated with surveillance.
The event included an open discussion, where participants from various sectors engaged with the panelists on privacy concerns, offering solutions to tackle the growing threat of mass surveillance in Telangana.
