Need to install Cell Phone Jammers in Prisons/Jails

With the advent of communication technology the world has been benefited a lot but there has been a flipside to it.  The Underworld, Anti-social elements and others of the same cadres have been using the communication technology to their benefit in much better a way than the society in general.  For them the Mobile-phones as well as Satellite phones have provided a new way of controlling their teams across the geography irrespective of their own locations including the jails / prisons.

Though the rules state that Mobile Phones etc are not allowed for anyone who is behind the bars, we have often heard that the use of Mobile Phones is wide-spread among the High Profile Prisoners.  How do they get these devices in prisons/jails in something that have always been talked about and is a no brainer with the visitors being allowed or with the involvement of corrupt officials.

So what is the way out? How do we control use of devices or how do we break this communication channel?  There are two options to it - 

1. Strict Vigilence on Jail inmates and their visitors
2. Install Jammers to Jam signals within Jails.

Though Option 1 would be a good step, but then with the involvement of corrupt officials, the purpose would always be defeated. Had it worked, we would not be having the problem of remote executions.

Option 2 is the only viable option that I see at this time.  Installing Jammers would ensure that the Range of Mobile Signals is not available in the Jails / Prisons and that would curtail this issue to quite an extent.  But, will it solve the problem, I believe not 100% as there are other areas where those serving the sentence are taken and where they can use the devices to their benefits.

What the Prison/Jail authorities would have to do is to ensure that the prisoners are frisked before they are taken to such places as well as ensure that the option to install Jammers at such places is evaluated.  For instance if the Prisoners are being taken to a Query as part of Operations, then the area needs to be cordoned off with security fence and Jammers must be installed to wipe off any chances of getting mobile signal coverage....

I really appreciate the step that has already been taken up by the Govt of West Bengal to install Jammers at its facility, at least they have taken a step towards this.  And I really hope that this step by Govt of West Bengal would encourage other state Governments to take similar steps. Specifically the Govt of Delhi to install Jammers at Prisons in Delhi, Govt. of Maharashtra to install them at Prisons in Mumbai, Pune and Thane where the high profile prisoners are housed.

It is the need of time to take this step and Central Cabinet Security Cell must release a notification to this effect giving blanket approval to the State Governments to take this step forward.

We know that Communication is key to success and if we break the communication, the execution would break in itself. So its time to break the communication channel for ensuring that the Criminal Activities specifically of Crime against Nation are curtailed......

The Evil Side of Social Networking

Social Networking is in a way boon to the Professionals to help them connect and share information.  It is a boon to the Youngsters to connect and search to gather information.  It serves as online platform for the families and friends to connect and share. Looking at the various aspects of Social Networking and the vision with which these were created, should be applauded for.  But as they say, Evil always follows the Good.  So is the case of Social Networking where the Evil Prospered more and brought out the uglier side of the human race.  

With the anonymity to hide behind and with the ease of projecting oneself as something others would look to, the so called "predators" have started bringing disrepute to the Social Networking.  There are so many cases that are to be read about often.  The case of Love over Social Networking, the Case of Claiming to do things for Fun, the Case of Suicide for being dumped by the So called Boy Friend or Girl Friend found on Social Networking Site, the case of Financial Duping by friends from Social Networking and so forth.  The cases here have risen to the next level with the involvement of Minors who get depressed or commit suicide or get abused over the Social Networking Sites.

All the malice and all the inappropriateness actually triggers down to one question - "What Level of Protocols are to be developed to ensure that the Malice and bad Intended Activities are controlled on Social Networking?"  Probably the Think Tanks across the world would have to work together to ensure that they find a viable solution while still not hampering the independence and liberty offered by the Internet and Social Networking Sites. The areas that they would need to work towards may involve - 

1. Schools need to Compulsorily conduct Awareness Sessions for the minors on how to avoid the evils of Social Networking and the things that "Certainly need to be avoided" on the Net.
2. Parent - Teacher joint task groups should be created to mentor the troubled child who could have crossed that extra mile and got in the shades of the Evils of Social Networking 
3. Parents to act as counsellors for their Children in the tender teen age where there is high possibility of getting influenced by the peer group and getting to the wrong un
4. Age verification for the Adults getting in touch with Minors over the Social Network - this can be an option for due diligence and the Social Networking sites may use data other than Credit Cards for the Purpose.  May be a verification server deployed with Government agency be used as an authentic source of information to this effect. Depends how this integration is brought in for various countries / geographies.  But yes without storing the Sensitive Personal Information, they can work toward the Authentication Token based mechanism
5. Countries to introduce regulations / acts to ensure that the Minors are not provided access to the Cyber Cafe when not accompanied by an Adult Family Member.  Parents and elder / adult siblings must be made aware of and responsible to this effect

There as such can be many steps that can be thought of and debated to arrive at the right mix to reduce the evils and the impacts.  Though, I don't think that it would be easy to eradicate the evils and evil effects of the Social Networking........