In August 2008, a TV channel in India received an email from this so-called Indian Mujahideen group. According to the Intelligence Bureau, the case involving this Indian Mujahideen was just a ploy orchestrated by the the outfits banned in India to mislead the investigators. Thorough investigations were conducted to identify the originator of the email. We can see in this case that, though the Internet is tool that can make our work efficient, it can also be used as a tool to spread fear among people.
Is a centralized database the solution
In UK, there is a new email law that could ensure that the Internet can only be used for protecting people and not for spreading terror. This new email law requires the UK’s Internet providers to record all the emails that are being sent and received by every individual in UK. Through this law, events such as that involving the Indian Mujahideen group can be resolved easily. For the proponents of this law, creating a central database could be one of the best ways for the government to safeguard its people.
What are the drawbacks of a centralized database
One of the most important reasons a centralized database is being criticized by many is that they think that this system is a violation of the people’s civil liberties. Aside from this, the new email law in UK claims to safeguard the security of the people from terrorists, yet it does not provide anyone that could safeguard the people from the government itself.