Show notes
Subscribe to Dostcast Clips:https://www.youtube.com/@dostcastclips?sub_confirmation=1Listen to Dostcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70vrbHeSvrcXyOeISTyBSy?si=be05dbdd564245d9Join the Dostcast Janta Party on WhatsApp for regular updates: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAZwo5D8SDs5kf94N3TWant to suggest a guest?Fill this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ft_-1QDs7XpsSWnaPOeF21yUlhk9bzKvwHSyh4hHfBU/edit?usp=drivesdk====================================================================Apar Gupta is a Supreme Court lawyer and co-founder of the Internet Freedom Foundation. He was part of the legal team behind Shreya Singhal v. Union of India — the case that struck down Section 66A of the IT Act. For over a decade, Apar has litigated India's biggest digital rights cases — fighting censorship, mass surveillance, and blocking orders against every government in power, not just this one. Where most tech commentary in India stays in English op-eds, he operates inside the courtrooms actually shaping what you can post, watch, and read online. Blunt, uninterested in TV-panel theatrics, and clear that free speech in India isn't dying — it's being managed.In this episode, Vinamre and Apar discuss:Data mining, dark patterns, and how apps profile you before you even sign upHyderabad's surveillance, the 26/11 tapes, and "national security" as an excuse for overreachAI and privacy — books pulped for LLM training, and lawyers already using ClaudeFighting every government — 6000 blocking orders, the Section 66A win, and Meta/X's deals with the stateSelf-censorship among creators, and what politicians want from podcasters.Follow Apar Gupta on: X: https://x.com/apar1984 Internet Freedom Foundation: https://internetfreedom.inTimestamps:0:00 – Coming Up1:30 – Data Mining At Cafes6:15 – Individualised Pricing Explained10:34 – Dark Patterns In Apps12:07 – How Cookies Track You15:08 – Who Sells Your Data18:11 – Right To Privacy India22:43 – Indian Police Structure Problem24:51 – Hyderabad Most Surveilled City25:43 – National Security vs Privacy28:45 – 26/11 & David Headley31:50 – Running AI On Your Data37:50 – How Apar Stays Private38:52 – Health Tracking & Screen Time40:19 – Books Pulped For AI43:09 – AI-Written Manifestos44:35 – Lawyers Using Claude AI46:14 – Why Telegram Got Banned51:16 – WhatsApp vs Telegram vs Signal53:30 – How Apar Started IFF59:07 – Fighting Every Government1:00:38 – Free Speech In India1:04:10 – RK Laxman & Satire1:08:10 – Govt Deal With Meta & X1:12:10 – Congress Era Censorship1:17:12 – 6000 Blocking Orders1:21:30 – Creators Self-Censoring1:26:16 – Why X Still Runs In India1:30:48 – Clickbait Headlines Game1:33:48 – Rise Of New Media1:36:48 – Politicians & Podcasters1:42:51 – Substack & Media Prestige1:45:38 – Future Of Internet Freedom1:48:56 – Digital Literacy & Jobs1:53:27 – Can We Log Off?1:57:59 – Writing On Paper Again2:01:34 – Dark Web Reality2:04:01 – Nehru Place Computer Market2:04:38 – Blue Whale Challenge2:07:07 – Apar's Book Influences2:13:12 – Conclusion====================================================================Vinamre Kasanaa is a writer at heart, podcaster and entrepreneur by craft.He spends a significant part of his time reading and researching.With over 500 podcasts under his belt, he’s interviewed everyone—from HNIs and industry leaders to everyday superheroes.Follow Vinamre:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinamre-kasanaa-b8524496/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinamrekasanaa/Twitter: https://twitter.com/VinamreKasanaaDostcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dostcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/dostcast====================================================================Contact Us:For business inquiries: [email protected]