Zoom: The app with a catch 22 situation

The word is self-explanatory, ‘Zoom’ has taken the world by storm, just like Macdonaldisation, Coca-cola etc. This connecting app used for business, education etc purpose has not only become a source of communicating but its viability such as uninterrupted service has made it a part of our everyday life.

However, anything which makes us overly dependent can have negative implications as well. A ‘Catch-22’ is a paradoxical situation from where there is no escape as had been coined by Joseph Heller in his 1961 novel Catch-22 situation. There has been news, rumours from every nook and corner that the said app poses a threat to privacy and security. Petitioner Harsh Chugh has filed a petition in the Supreme court asking the centre to carry out an exhaustive technical study into the security and privacy risks posed by it. A bench comprising of Justice AS Bopana and Justice Hrishikesh Roy, former Chief Justice and Justice of the Gauhati High Court respectively are the presiding judges and have asked the centre to file a reply within 4 weeks.

What is Zoom?

Zoom is an American communication Technology Company which is a cloud-based service, however, as regards to the ownership there is a cloud of uncertainties as it it is claimed by many that origins of the software is found in China under the patronage of Raunshi Software.

Foul-play?

During, pre-Covid19 times this app company was there but there were other players such as Skype, Google Duo etc who were very much in the scene but ever since the fallout of the pandemic ‘Zoom’ has become a common name in every household. One reason could be it’s mostly uninterrupted service, free usage etc but on the other hand, there seems to be something fishy or it smacks of a conspiracy. There has been allegations of the big data game by the Chinese behind the app at a time Trump is stating that America would quit membership of UN if the World Health Organization does not demonstrate independence from China and has already stalled USD 500 million to be given to UN. Revelations made by American Whistleblower Edward Snowden had gone on to reveal the dirty secrets of America about their spying activities. We don’t need another Snowden to in this situation.

Under the Indian Evidence Act, there is a provision for circumstantial evidence where a chain of events leads to proving facts. And all this is manifest in nature, the entire conspiracy and everything. It is high time we stop acting like an ostrich and react otherwise we will be the ‘Julius Caesar’ at the end of the day. UK’s PM Boris Johnson has also pledged to reduce Huawei’s involvement in Britain’s 5G network.

Going forward

Few recent reports reveal, we have taken a lot of positive measures as the report has suggested that we have become the second-largest manufactures of PPE kits which we had acquired from China there was large scale criticism but now we have learnt how to manufacture the said kits through ‘social engineering’, other techniques etc. The PM has gone on to say that we should go local he wants to boost up the MSME’s, encourage startups, relax loans for corporate etc.

Also read: India and Australia share virtual relations with ‘Samosa’ diplomacy

As a consumer, we can go for local products rather than relying on Chinese products as we are one of the biggest importers of Chinese products. We should support this idea irrespective of ideological tussles, political vendetta, but ‘unity’ is just what the doctor has ordered. Now let us imagine a situation if Calpurnia's dream(breach of privacy) through zoom turn out to reality than we will have to face havoc.

What lies ahead

Starting from commercial to defense secrets everything is going to go for a toss. Hence to avoid such a situation state-based telecommunication companies such as BSNL should try and develop a similar such software because at the end of the day we require such a medium, especially in such testing times where we are bound to go online. We have bright minds there is no scarcity of talent we are 130 cr. plus rather than playing caste cards, maligning each other we should fund such teams, think tanks who would develop such software at the earliest. There is nothing better in this world than being self-reliant and Independent. This will also usher in new lease of life to BSNL as only last year government had approved bailout package worth thousands of corers to revive it. And the future of the operations of Zoom is still uncertain in our country of how it is going to operate will be it’s operations be banned or regulated but as a public-spirited citizen of this country it is my humble appeal to all to find a solution. And always keep this in mind that Absolute power Corrupts absolutely as had been told by Aristotle. 

About the author: Prakreetish Sarma is currently practicing as an Advocate in Gauhati High Court and has completed his graduation in law from National Law University and Judicial Academy Assam. His interests include playing football, badminton, cooking, discovering new places and going for trekking and into social work

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