CERT-in may be exempted from RTI Act: Govt.
Proposals suggest exempting India’s cyber security agency, CERT-in, from the Right to Information Act. This move would allow the body to reject public queries, even regarding policy matters, mirroring exemptions granted to intelligence and border agencies. The government argues that such secrecy is vital for national security and effective cyber incident coordination. The exemption follows controversial directives requiring VPN and crypto firms to log user data, sparking privacy concerns and legal challenges. By withholding information, the agency avoids transparency obligations despite its power to mandate data retention from private entities. Critics highlight this imbalance, noting that while citizens’ privacy may be compromised, public accountability for state actions diminishes. This development is critically relevant to open data advocates, as it sets a precedent for obscuring digital governance. It risks normalizing secrecy in cyberspace policy, undermining public trust and the principle that government data, especially concerning surveillance and security protocols, should remain accessible. Reduced transparency hinders democratic oversight of digital rights enforcement.
Source: thehindu.comPublished on 2023-04-01