Q. In India, the current focus on the right to privacy is based on some new realities of the digital age.
A right is a substantive right only if it works in all situations, and for everyone. A right to free expression for an individual about her exploitation, for instance, is meaningless without actual availability of security that guarantees that private force cannot be used to thwart this right. The role of the State, therefore, is not just to abstain from preventing rightful free Expression, but also to actively ensure that private parties are not able to block it.
Q1. On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. State should have some institutions to ensure its appropriate role in a digital society.
2. State should ensure that private parties do not violate the citizens’ right to privacy.
3. Digital economy is not compatible with the idea of not violating the citizens’ privacy.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 3 Only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 2 only
Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2
Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
(a) 1 and 2 are valid assumptions based on the passage.
The passage suggests that the role of the State in a digital age is not just to abstain from preventing rightful free expression but also to actively ensure that private parties are not able to block it. This implies that the State should have institutions to ensure its appropriate role in a digital society and ensure that private parties do not violate citizens’ right to privacy. The passage does not mention anything about assumption 3, which states that the digital economy is not compatible with the idea of not violating citizens’ privacy.
