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Trending: Call for Papers Volume 5 | Issue 1: International Journal of Advanced Legal Research [ISSN: 2582-7340]

RIGHT TO PRIVACY VIS-A-VIS SOCIAL MEDIA – Ayushi Saini

INTRODUCTION

“In a world where everyone shows and tells everything,   I value discretion and privacy”

Social Media Networks (SMNs) are one of the important evolutions that have happened in past decades. Some of the popular SMNs are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, etc. Its speed and scope means that once content is posted it is available instantly around the globe. Social media is useful and used by all professions and ages. People of all ages and occupations use social media because it is helpful. Social media is radically altering not just how we interact with friends but also how we work by enabling connections between strangers, professionals, and friends that were previously unthinkable on a global scale. Privacy problems inevitably surface whenever personally identifiable information is exchanged and retained. As a result, protecting an individual’s privacy in a domain like SMNs that is meant for sharing is challenging.

Social media affects the user privacy as it can control the information filled by the user, posts shared by user and other personal disclosures made by users publicalLy on these social networking sites. Additionally, social media networks can sync with applications on tablets and phones. Despite privacy regulations raising concerns, social media networks are trusted to protect user information by using these apps that request additional contact information from users. Sensitive data leaks may lead to legal action, consumer mistrust, brand harm, erosion of privacy, income loss, etc. Edited images and videos from user profiles can be used to threaten, blackmail, and defame specific users. Likes on postings and the interests of others can lead to contentious viewpoints and indicate a lot about a person.

The basis of privacy in western world was derived from the ancient political and civilized systems during the period of the Greek and Roman governments. Why is the political system so important as the source of the evolution of privacy in modern liberal society?

No matter how far humanity has come or when it first appeared, there has always been a need for privacy. In ancient India, the concept of privacy was integrated with the term “Avarana,” meditation, and the Vedas and Upanishads. It also became a part of the concept of “Dharma.” The Hindu and Muslim eras in India’s history of privacy each have their own set of laws and customs that seclusion. In India, the idea of privacy has long existed. It was ingrained in Indian culture’s rich legacy customs.

With the improvements and popularity of social media, cyber crimes are rapidly increasing. It is important to give attention to the issues and make strict rules and regulations with the dynamic technology. Individual users are very much interested in social networking sites like Whatsapp, facebook, etc especially women and children who are interacting with strangers on these sites and meeting them which has increased the scope of crimes through social media. Proper attention should be given by the appropriate authorities in this matter.