Editor,
As we are moving toward the fourth stage of the industrial revolution, we witnessed the increasing trend of computerisation and digitisation where all manual information systems are stored in the form of data. This data could be very beneficial for companies or tech savvy to target one’s mind using simple algorithm code which eventually turns data into monetary terms by selling it to the market. These data are then bought by various state actors or non-state actors or even political organisations to use them at their own advantages.
In a similar line, we saw political parties were collecting private information of voters in the name of schemes if voted to power. Private information could be name, sex, age, address, mobile number, etc. This information is then fed into a computerised system and is converted into computerised data. Based on the data, the algorithm is then written and processed to target our daily life using internet activities, browsing history, etc.
In this regard, the WE and MYE Card registration drive of the TMC party to collect personal information is an example of how information is converted into data. Further, this collected data could have the potential to be misused by the political parties or any stakeholders in the near future.
Misusing data can be of various forms, for example, feeding of ads, opening the gate for scammers, fake links, etc. Collected data could possibly expose our individual privacy which directly violates our right to privacy. Therefore, people should make themselves aware and wary about the consequences caused before we randomly share our private information with any third party firm like a political firm or private firm.
Moreover, as long as we do not have strong Data Protection Law, it is advisable not to recklessly share any private details with any private firm. Perhaps, it is also crucial to know that in the age of the internet, data is a new gold. Whoever controls the data, is controlling the wealth and as well as our life. The algorithm is designed to read our mind and can expose our personal information simultaneously.
Nang-oo Sari
Thadlaskein
West Jaintia Hills
