Digital Rights Lawyer On Surveillance, Dark Patterns, Censorship & Why Privacy Is Dying | Dostcast

Subscribe to Dostcast Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@dostcastclips?sub_confirmation=1 Listen to Dostcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70vrbHeSvrcXyOeISTyBSy?si=be05dbdd564245d9 Join the Dostcast Janta Party on WhatsApp for regular updates: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAZwo5D8SDs5kf94N3T Want 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 up Hyderabad's surveillance, the 26/11 tapes, and "national security" as an excuse for overreach AI and privacy — books pulped for LLM training, and lawyers already using Claude Fighting every government — 6000 blocking orders, the Section 66A win, and Meta/X's deals with the state Self-censorship among creators, and what politicians want from podcasters. Follow Apar Gupta on: X: https://x.com/apar1984 Internet Freedom Foundation: https://internetfreedom.in Timestamps: 0:00 – Coming Up 1:30 – Data Mining At Cafes 6:15 – Individualised Pricing Explained 10:34 – Dark Patterns In Apps 12:07 – How Cookies Track You 15:08 – Who Sells Your Data 18:11 – Right To Privacy India 22:43 – Indian Police Structure Problem 24:51 – Hyderabad Most Surveilled City 25:43 – National Security vs Privacy 28:45 – 26/11 & David Headley 31:50 – Running AI On Your Data 37:50 – How Apar Stays Private 38:52 – Health Tracking & Screen Time 40:19 – Books Pulped For AI 43:09 – AI-Written Manifestos 44:35 – Lawyers Using Claude AI 46:14 – Why Telegram Got Banned 51:16 – WhatsApp vs Telegram vs Signal 53:30 – How Apar Started IFF 59:07 – Fighting Every Government 1:00:38 – Free Speech In India 1:04:10 – RK Laxman & Satire 1:08:10 – Govt Deal With Meta & X 1:12:10 – Congress Era Censorship 1:17:12 – 6000 Blocking Orders 1:21:30 – Creators Self-Censoring 1:26:16 – Why X Still Runs In India 1:30:48 – Clickbait Headlines Game 1:33:48 – Rise Of New Media 1:36:48 – Politicians & Podcasters 1:42:51 – Substack & Media Prestige 1:45:38 – Future Of Internet Freedom 1:48:56 – Digital Literacy & Jobs 1:53:27 – Can We Log Off? 1:57:59 – Writing On Paper Again 2:01:34 – Dark Web Reality 2:04:01 – Nehru Place Computer Market 2:04:38 – Blue Whale Challenge 2:07:07 – Apar's Book Influences 2:13:12 – 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/VinamreKasanaa Dostcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dostcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dostcast ==================================================================== Contact Us: For business inquiries: [email protected]