This article examines the "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" doctrine in the Indian legal context, where courts have historically admitted illegally obtained evidence if deemed relevant. However, with the recognition of the right to privacy in K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India and the enactment of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, there is a growing emphasis on protecting individual privacy over procedural leniency. This shift highlights the need for a well-defined legal framework that balances investigative authority with constitutional safeguards, ensuring that evidence obtained through unlawful means does not undermine fundamental rights and the rule of law.
Threats to Fundamental Rights in the Digital Era: Analysing Rule 4(2) of IT Rules 2021
This blog ais to analyse Rule 4(2) of the IT Rules, 2021 which mandates identification of the first originator of information. Wherein, It threatens user’s privacy, free speech, and intermediary’s immunity by breaking end-to end encryption, promotes chilling effects, creates arbitrary state actions and violates international principles. Thus, the need of reforms is necessary to balance regulation with fundamental rights in the digital age.
Horizontal Application of Privacy Rights: A Constiutional Tort Framework
This post discusses the critical role of privacy rights in today’s digital landscape, emphasizing enforcement challenges due to privacy’s dual recognition as a fundamental and common law right. Drawing on the Supreme Court’s recent Kaushal Kishor ruling, it advocates for a constitutional tort framework that allows horizontal application of privacy rights within a unified legal structure.
The DPDP Act: Need for an Objective Legislation instead of a Vague Notion of ‘Balancing Rights and Public Interest’
The authors, in this article, delve into the speculations about the DPDP Act and analyze the areas of concern to the depth of interpreting expressions used in the statutes with respect to Privacy, Right to Information and its balance National Security. They also discusses possible solutions by drawing cues from other legislations.
Unmasking Dark Patterns: Preserving Cognitive Liberty and Safeguarding Informational Privacy
The author, while recognizing the increased functioning of dark patterns to allude consumers, seeks to delve into the psychological intricacies associated with those and the data protection implications that arise from the employment of such designs. The article also provides an insight into how the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023 can protect the data privacy rights of users whose choices are unethically manipulated.
Is Volksgeist Ready for recognition of Same-Sex Marriage in India?
In this article, the author brings forth several arguments to display that even though, same sex marriage upholds equal rights of every citizen, owing to India's diverse public opinion landscape, the people are not entirely ready to deal with the issues that can arise as a result of such recognition. Numerous existing laws will require major amendments, a Uniform Civil Code must be in place and customary religious beliefs shall face conflict. So the author opines the need for such recognition but only when volksgeist is ready to accept it.
Pegasus Spyware: An Invisible Threat To People’s Privacy In India
The following article examines the inalienable and intrinsic right to privacy, in purview of the recent Pegasus Spyware controversy and calls for an era of a more robust privacy law in India.