Hyderabad: The Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) Hyderabad concluded a roundtable meet, Samkalin Sabha, on “Security & Surveillance: Challenges to Privacy and Citizen Rights in Telangana” at JS Krishna Murthy Hall, FTCCI, Redhills here.
The program commenced with recitation of the Quran, followed by inaugural remarks from SIO Hyderabad Secretary, Adv. Abdus Sami, setting the tone for the day’s discussions. He emphasized the growing surveillance and intrusion by the state and corporations into the privacy of civilians. The event gathered activists, legal experts, and civil society members to deliberate on the crucial intersection of security, surveillance, and privacy.
SQ Masood, an RTI activist and legal expert, opened the discussions by emphasizing 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, a 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 has led to the erosion of individual freedoms.
Naseer Giyas, Director of Owaisi School of Excellence, addressed human rights implications of mass surveillance and highlighted sufferings of marginalized communities. He spoke about the media’s role in exposing these practices and emphasized 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 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 Shafiqur Rahman Mahajir from Telangana High Court 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 JIH, concluded the session by emphasizing the need for civilians to take a vigilant and proactive role in addressing these issues. He spoke about the importance of mass sensitization 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.
