The Centre announced new IT rules on February 25 and the deadline to comply with the law ended on May 26. Non-compliance means that social media companies like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram can now be sued for posts, comments, etc made on the platform by users. The law does not carry a provision to ban the platforms but it can take away safe harbour protections.

A WhatsApp message viral last year has been revived in the wake of the new IT rules. It claims that the Government of India is monitoring all forms of online and telephonic communications and asked people to not forward messages related to politics or religion. Alt News has received numerous requests on its WhatsApp helpline number (+91 76000 11160) to verify the message.

The complete text reads, “All calls are recorded. All phone call recordings saved. WhatsApp is monitored. Twitter is monitored. Facebook is monitored All social media and forums are monitored. Inform those who do not know. Your devices are connected to ministry systems. Take care not to send unnecessary messages. Inform your children, Relatives and friends about this to take care. Don’t forward any posts or videos etc., you receive regarding politics/present situation about Government/PM etc.тАЛтАЛ Police have put out a notification termed ..Cyber Crime … and action will be taken…just don’t delete … Inform your friends & others too. Writing or forwarding any msg on any political & religious debate is an offence now….arrest without warrant… This is very serious, plz let it be known to all our groups and individual members as group admin can b in deep trouble. Take care not to send unnecessary messages. Inform everyone about this to take care. Please share it; it’s very much true. Groups please be careful.”

Below is a screenshot of the message viral last year in April.

Hoax message

On March 24, 2020, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) debunked this message via Twitter. “No such thing is being done by the Government,” reads the tweet.

It is important to keep in mind that WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption (E2EE) which means “only you and the person you’re communicating with can read what’s sent, and nobody in between, not even WhatsApp.” E2EE conversations remain private unless the receiver shares screenshots of the conversation or if there is a breach in the security of the communication devices. WhatsApp sued the Indian government on May 26, 2021, over new internet rules that ask the company to identify the “first originator of information”. WhatsApp has argued this would break E2EE and infringe on the right to privacy.

Facebook Messenger doesn’t have end-to-end encryption enabled by default. But it has a feature called ‘secret conversation‘ which is end-to-end encrypted. Similarly, Twitter does not have end-to-end encryption for its direct messages. As per a 2018 Tech Crunch report, Twitter was testing a feature similar to Facebook’s secret conversation.

It’s important to note that not all E2EE messaging applications are equal. Tom’s Guide, an audience supported tech blog, has listed various E2EE apps available for Android or iOS. A 2019 report by Engadget, a US-based tech news website, compared the security offered by Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal. According to this report, Signal has the highest standard of security out of the four apps.

Expert opinion

In order to understand social media surveillance by the government, Alt News reached out to Kushal Das, a developer of SecureDrop at Freedom of the Press Foundation, via Signal messenger. SecureDrop is a free software platform for secure communication between journalists and sources.

Before you read the responses given by Das to our questions, we recommend you watch this short video by AJ+ about online surveillance.

Can you explain how social media platforms are monitored by the government?

Das: “Indian government records everything at internet service provider (ISP) level. Additionally, the government installs hardware on the ISP level. They can see/track who is visiting which sites, and the different social media platform posts. So when they need the data, all they have to do is send formal notice to these companies to get access to your private chats. Even though WhatsApp chats are end-to-end encrypted, the government can still ask the company and find out who is talking with whom. They can also arrest a person and force them to unlock their phone. Similarly, they can create social graphs by identifying who is following whom, and the frequency of the chats.”

You said that the claim in viral text, “Your devices are connected to ministry systems” is false. So how do governments, across the world, get the personal data of individuals?

Das: “Generally, your devices don’t get attacked directly unless you are under full-scale surveillance. Think about all the browsing you do, the government can see them live in their systems (in most cases not the actual data, but the metadata, like which sites etc). As I mentioned earlier, all the government has to do is ask for actual data (say your emails, chats on FB) from the company. By the way, the government also has a system to auto transcribe the calls and store the data for a much longer period if they want.”

How secure are SMS and phone calls via cellular service?

Das: “By law, all communication over the air in India is not encrypted. This has been done to make sure that the government can monitor all the communication. This means SMS and normal phone calls are not secure from criminals too. For instance, OTPs send to our phones can be intercepted.”

What does this mean for the privacy of an individual?

Das: “Individual privacy is in great danger as we don’t have any laws to protect this information. All metadata can be used to create profiles of individuals which they can predict and monitor much more efficiently. This destroys any personal freedom we have.”

What can we do to protect our online privacy?

Das: “We know that the government is capable of recording all phone calls. But are they doing it? That we don’t know. But we know for sure that they are storing all call logs and other metadata. That is good enough to create new target lists so that they can monitor individuals completely.”

People can start by these steps to make themselves more secure – move all phone calls/messages to Signal messenger. This app does not store similar level of metadata (unlike WhatsApp) and the phone calls cannot be intercepted easily. As for secure web browsing, people can start using Tor Browser more frequently, so that their internet usage stays more private to them.”

Message viral in Hindi and Gujarati too

The viral text has been widely circulated by Hindi and Gujarati users as well.

The viral text in Gujarati reads, “ркЖрк╡ркдрлАркХрк╛рк▓ркерлА ркирк╡рк╛ рк╕ркВркЪрк╛рк░ркирк╛ ркирк┐ркпркорлЛ рк▓рк╛ркЧрлБ ркХрк░рк╡рк╛ркорк╛ркВ ркЖрк╡рк╢рлЗ ркЕркоркжрк╛рк╡рк╛ркж рккрлЛрк▓рлАрк╕ 1. ркмркзрк╛ ркХрлЛрк▓ рк░рлЗркХрлЛрк░рлНркбрк┐ркВркЧрлНрк╕ рк╣рк╢рлЗ. 2. ркмркзрлА ркЬ ркХрлЛрк▓ рк░рлЗркХрлЛрк░рлНркбрк┐ркВркЧрлНрк╕ рк╕рк╛ркЪрк╡рк╡рк╛ркорк╛ркВ ркЖрк╡рк╢рлЗ. 3. рк╡рлЛркЯрлНрк╕ркПркк, рклрлЗрк╕ркмрлБркХ, ркЯрлНрк░рк┐ркЯрк░ ркЕркирлЗ ркмркзрк╛ рк╕рлЛрк╢рк┐ркпрк▓ ркорлАркбрк┐ркпрк╛ рккрк░ ркиркЬрк░ рк░рк╛ркЦрк╡рк╛ркорк╛ркВ ркЖрк╡рк╢рлЗ. 4. ркЬрлЗ рк▓рлЛркХрлЛ ркЬрк╛ркгркдрк╛ ркиркерлА ркдрлЗ ркмркзрк╛ркирлЗ ркЬрк╛ркг ркХрк░рлЛ. 5. ркдркорк╛рк░рк╛ ркЙрккркХрк░ркг ркоркВркдрлНрк░рк╛рк▓ркп рк╕рк┐рк╕рлНркЯркорлНрк╕ рк╕рк╛ркерлЗ ркХркирлЗркХрлНркЯ ркерк╢рлЗ. 6. ркХрлЛркИркирлЗ ркЦрлЛркЯрлЛ рк╕ркВркжрлЗрк╢ рки ркорлЛркХрк▓рк╡рк╛ рккрк░ ркзрлНркпрк╛рки ркЖрккрлЛ. 7. ркдркорк╛рк░рк╛ ркмрк╛рк│ркХрлЛ, ркнрк╛ркИркУ, рк╕ркВркмркВркзрлАркУ, ркорк┐ркдрлНрк░рлЛ, рккрк░рк┐ркЪрк┐ркдрлЛркирлЗ, ркжрк░рлЗркХркирлЗ ркЬрк╛ркг ркХрк░рлЛ ркХрлЗ ркдркорк╛рк░рлЗ ркдрлЗркоркирлА рк╕ркВркнрк╛рк│ рк▓рлЗрк╡рлА ркЬрлЛркИркП ркЕркирлЗ рк╕рлЛрк╢рк┐ркпрк▓ рк╕рк╛ркЗркЯрлНрк╕ркирлЗ ркнрк╛ркЧрлНркпрлЗ ркЬ ркЪрк▓рк╛рк╡рк╡рлА ркЬрлЛркИркП. 8. ркХрлЛркИрккркг рккрлЛрк╕рлНркЯ ркХрлЗ рк╡рк┐ркбрлАркпрлЛ… рк╡ркЧрлЗрк░рлЗ ркЬрлЗркирлЗ ркдркорлЗ рк░рк╛ркЬркХрк╛рк░ркг ркЕркерк╡рк╛ рк╡рк░рлНркдркорк╛рки рккрк░рк┐рк╕рлНркерк┐ркдрк┐ рккрк░ рк╕рк░ркХрк╛рк░ ркЕркерк╡рк╛ рк╡ркбрк╛ рккрлНрк░ркзрк╛ркиркирлА рк╕рк╛ркорлЗ ркорлЗрк│рк╡рлЛ ркЫрлЛ. ркорлЛркХрк▓рлЛ ркирк╣рлАркВ. 9. ркЕркдрлНркпрк╛рк░рлЗ ркХрлЛркИрккркг рк░рк╛ркЬркХрлАркп ркХрлЗ ркзрк╛рк░рлНркорк┐ркХ ркорлБркжрлНркжрлЗ рк╕ркВркжрлЗрк╢ рк▓ркЦрк╡рлЛ ркХрлЗ ркорлЛркХрк▓рк╡рлЛ ркП ркЧрлБркирлЛ ркЫрлЗ. ркЖрк╡рлБркВ ркХрк░рк╡рк╛ркерлА рк╡рлЛрк░ркВркЯ рк╡рк┐ркирк╛ ркзрк░рккркХркб ркеркИ рк╢ркХрлЗ ркЫрлЗ. 10. рккрлЛрк▓рк┐рк╕ рккрлНрк░ркерко ркирлЛркЯрк┐рклрк┐ркХрлЗрк╢ркирлЗ ркжрлВрк░ ркХрк░рк╢рлЗ …. ркдрлНркпрк╛рк░ркмрк╛ркж рк╕рк╛ркпркмрк░ ркХрлНрк░рк╛ркИрко … ркдрлНркпрк╛рк░ркмрк╛ркж ркХрк╛рк░рлНркпрк╡рк╛рк╣рлА ркХрк░рк╡рк╛ркорк╛ркВ ркЖрк╡рк╢рлЗ. ркдрлЗ ркЦрлВркм ркЧркВркнрлАрк░ ркЫрлЗ 11. ркмркзрк╛ ркЬ ркЧрлГрккркирк╛ рк╕ркнрлНркпрлЛ, рк╕ркВркЪрк╛рк▓ркХрлЛ, … ркХрлГрккрк╛ ркХрк░рлАркирлЗ ркЖ рк╡рк┐рк╖ркп рккрк░ рк╡рк┐ркЪрк╛рк░ ркХрк░рлЛ. 12. ркХрлЛркИ ркЦрлЛркЯрлЛ рк╕ркВркжрлЗрк╢ ркирлЗ ркорлЛркХрк▓рк╡рк╛ркирлА ркХрк╛рк│ркЬрлА рк░рк╛ркЦрлЛ. ркЕркирлЗ ркжрк░рлЗркХркирлЗ ркЬрк╛ркг ркХрк░рлЛ ркЕркирлЗ ркЖ рк╡рк┐рк╖ркпркирлА рк╕ркВркнрк╛рк│ рк░рк╛ркЦрлЛ. 13. ркХрлГрккрк╛ ркХрк░рлАркирлЗ ркЖркирлЗ рк╢рлЗрк░ ркХрк░рлЛ.. ркЖркнрк╛рк░…”

While the one in Hindi is as follows: “рдХрд▓ рд╕реЗ рдирдпреЗ communication рдирд┐рдпрдо рд▓рд╛рдЧреВ рд╣реЛрдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реЗ рд╣реИ :1.рд╕рднреА call recording рд╣реЛрдВрдЧреЗ 2.рд╕рднреА call recording saved рд╣реЛрдВрдЧреЗ 3.Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter, рдФрд░ рд╕рднреА Social media рд╕рднреА monitored рд╣реЛрдВрдЧреЗ 4.рдЬреЛ рдпреЗ рдирд╣реАрдВ рдЬрд╛рдирддреЗ рдЙрди рд╕рднреА рдХреЛ рдЗрддреНрддрд▓рд╛ (inform) рдХрд░ рджреАрдЬрд┐рдпреЗ 5.рдЖрдкрдХреА Devices рдХреЛ рдордиреНрддреНрд░рд╛рд▓рдп systems рд╕реЗ рдЬреЛрдбрд╝ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рдпреЗрдЧрд╛ 6,рдзреНрдпрд╛рди рджреАрдЬрд┐рдпреЗ рдХреЛрдИ рднреА рдЧрд▓рдд message рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдХреЛ рднреА рдордд рднреЗрдЬрд┐рдпреЗ 7.рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдмрдЪреНрдЪреЛрдВ, рднрд╛рдЗрдпреЛрдВ, рд░рд┐рд╢реНрддреЗрджрд╛рд░реЛ, рджреЛрд╕реНрддреЛрдВ,рдкрд░рд┐рдЪрд┐рддреЛ,рд╕рднреА рдХреЛ рдЗрддреНрддрд▓рд╛ (inform) рдХрд░ рджреЛ рдХрд┐ рдЗрди рд╕рдмрд╕реЗ рдзреНрдпрд╛рди рд░рдЦреЗ рдФрд░ social sites рдХреЛ рд╕рдВрдпрдо рд╕реЗ рдЪрд▓рд╛рдпреЗ 8.рдХреЛрдИ post рдпрд╛ video..рдЖрджрд┐ рдЬреЛ рдЖрдк recieve рдХрд░рддреЗ рд╣реЛ рд░рд╛рдЬрдиреАрддрд┐ рдпрд╛ рд╡рд░реНрддрдорд╛рди рд╕реНрдерд┐рддрд┐ рдкрд░ рд╕рд░рдХрд╛рд░ рдпрд╛ рдкреНрд░рдзрд╛рдирдордВрддреНрд░реА рдХреЗ рдЦрд┐рд▓рд╛рдл рдЙрд╕реЗ Send рдордд рдХрд░реЛ 9.рдЗрд╕ рд╕рдордп рдХрд┐рд╕реА рд░рд╛рдЬрдиреАрддрд┐рдХ рдпрд╛ рдзрд╛рд░реНрдорд┐рдХ рдореБрджреНрджреЗ рдкрд░ рдХреЛрдИ Message рд▓рд┐рдЦрдирд╛ рдпрд╛ рднреЗрдЬрдирд╛ рдЕрдкрд░рд╛рдз рд╣реИ ……рдРрд╕рд╛ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдкрд░ рдмрд┐рдирд╛ рд╡рд╛рд░рдВрдЯ рдХреЗ рдЧрд┐рд░рдлрд╝реНрддрд╛рд░реА рд╣реЛ рд╕рдХрддреА рд╣реИред 10.Police рдПрдХ рдиреЛрдЯрд┐рдлрд╝рд┐рдХреЗрд╢рди рдирд┐рдХрд╛рд▓реЗрдЧреА ….рдлрд╝рд┐рд░ Cyber рдЕрдкрд░рд╛рдз… рдлрд╝рд┐рд░ action рд▓рд┐рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рдпреЗрдЧрд╛ 11.рдпрд╣ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╣реА рдЧрдореНрднреАрд░ рд╣реИ please рдЖрдк рд╕рднреА, group members, admins ,…рдЗрд╕ рд╡рд┐рд╖рдп рдкрд░ рдЧрд╣рд░рд╛рдИ рд╕реЗ рд╕реЛрдЪрд┐рдпреЗ 12.рдзреНрдпрд╛рди рд░рдЦрд┐рдпреЗ рдХреЛрдИ рдЧрд▓рдд Message рдордд рднреЗрдЬрд┐рдпреЗ рдФрд░ рд╕рднреА рдХреЛ рдЗрддреНрддрд▓рд╛ (inform) рдХрд░рд┐рдпреЗ рдФрд░ рдЗрд╕ рд╡рд┐рд╖рдп рдкрд░ рдзреНрдпрд╛рди рд░рдЦреЗ 13.Please рдЗрд╕реЗ share рдХреАрдЬрд┐рдпреЗ… рдпрд╣ рд╕рдЪ рд╣реИ Groups рдЬреНрдпрд╛рджрд╛ рд╕рддрд░реНрдХ рд╡ рд╕рд╛рдмреНрдзрд╛рди рд░рд╣реЗред”

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About the Author

ЁЯЩП Blessed to have worked as a fact-checking journalist from November 2019 to February 2023.