Complying With The Red Flags Rule: Fill & Download for Free

Existing answers from Makarand Sahasrabuddhe & Bhuvi Jain have captured the privacy, security and legal aspects of the app. I also categorically disagree with Palkesh Asawa (पल्केश असावा). There is no doubt that this app encroaches on an indiviual’s Right to Privacy which was recognised as a fundamental right by the Honorable Supereme Court in 2017. The app also has no constitutional or legal basis. You can make the app voluntary for sure, but making it mandatory, hell no.I have a perspective to offer here which would benefit all the readers. At my current employer Microsoft, I have actually worked on problems related to safeguarding user privacy. I will try to describe the efforts I took as part of that work. I am bound by an NDA so I can’t go into too much detail.In 2016, the EU passed the landmark law on Data Protection and Privacy in the form of GDPR. Big Tech, including Microsoft were given ~2 years to comply or face heavy penalties for non-compliance. The app/service I worked on also had to be GDPR compliant. Explaining GDPR would take an entire book but suffice to say, it gives the user the right over his/her data. As a user, I can actually tell Microsoft to delete my data on the most granular basis, right down to the activity of me clicking a random widget or searching for a particular keyword in Bing and Microsoft by law has to comply. Microsoft will go to great lengths to comply as is mandated by law. India’s Data Protection Bill is still in draft mode and there are enough red flags in that to question the ruling government’s intent in making this app mandatory.In order to become GDPR compliant, Microsoft spent huge amounts of money hiring lawyers, developers, Program Managers, Product Managers etc i.e. the best talent, paid them market or above-market wages, to make sure each and every app complied with the GDPR law, I can vouch for that. Its a continued investment to this day. Its a huge reputational risk for any company to be leaking user data, knowingly or unkowingly. Why can’t I expect the same from my own Government considering the Big Government has a lot more influence on my day-to-day existence than any tech company ?At Microsoft, I work as part of a larger team called Security & Compliance. I do not work in the Security part of the org, but what I can tell you is Microsoft and all other tech companies, go above and beyond in hiring the best talent to secure their services and protect them from breaches by attackers. They pay top of the line wages to hire the best out there in the field of security, to secure apps that their users use. It doesn’t matter if the user is paying for the app or not. The same level of security is accorded to all services. The point I make is, it is costly to secure apps in this day and age, it takes time, talent & money and despite all of that they still get hacked, every now and then. Has the GoI done that with the Aarogya Setu App ? Clearly they have not, considering major security flaws were pointed by Eliot Alderson.Also since the PM is sincere in the Quest for Transparency, my request to the GoI would be,Can you make the source code open so that it is available for public scrutiny ? This is what the Singaporean government has done.Can you release the list of all developers who have contributed to the app so that we know competent developers have worked on it ?Can you tell us if there is a sunset clause on the data that is collected ? When will this app be retired ?I will not be using this app until all privacy concerns in the app have been addressed and it has been vetted by security professionals for any privacy/security flaws.

Ban on 59 Chinese Apps is the Way Forward:“When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.”- Winston S. ChurchillEvolution of Warfare:Since the First World War, the face of warfare has been evolving dramatically. In the First World War, soldiers were busy making trenches and dragging themselves in muddy waters. While in the Second, atom bombs made their noises heard. The subsequent wars brought to fore long range Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and ultimately drones. And, today we face an entirely different kind of battlefield – the digital one.Over the course of time, war has become more and more abstract. Today wars are no longer fought in the form of close quarter battles, but rather from distance – a soldier in California can command a drone strike in Iran, while a hacker in Hubei province of China can execute a malicious code on the target located thousands of miles away.Fighting physical war is a very costly affair and requires incredible logistics and supply chain management at the highest level. On the other hand, cyber warfare is cheap, individual personal risk is minimal and it’s possible to conduct a cyber attack without victims knowing (or at least being able to prove) who their attackers are.Thus, cyber warfare is brutal, anonymous and profitable. These attacks raise little to no eyebrows when compared to open transgression of international borders. A nuclear reactor meltdown, sabotage of weapon system, failure of electricity grids etc. can cause substantial and significant fatalities and can cripple a nation into submission. Therefore, countries like China have sharpened their cyber capabilities and are using it to fullest.Sino-Indian Context:From the territorial disputes with Vietnam and the Philippines in the South China Sea to tensions with Myanmar and Thailand, relationships have soured with China. And India is no exception. International border areas that were earlier considered mutually agreed upon and settled has brazenly been claimed by Republic of China in complete violation of all international norms. In fact, China has been trying to bully almost all it’s neighbors simultaneously.To bully it’s neighbors, China is now regularly employing cyber attacks in clandestine manner. It’s no wonder that Australian faced barrage of well coordinated cyber attacks! And Australian government has learnt it’s lesson well - it’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that $1.35 billion in existing defense funding would be spent over the next decade to boost the cyber-security capabilities of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).The Hidden Weapon – Mobile Applications:To execute perfect cyber attacks, the more the information about the adversary better it is. And this is where mobile applications come into picture. Before delving deeper, let’s clear the basis of mobile applications first.Most mobile applications employ client-server architecture. The client runs on the Operating System, which is usually iOS or Android. The client is downloaded by the user on personal device, from app distribution platforms like Playstore and Appstore. As perceived from the user’s point of view, the client installed is the mobile application. This is where the user interacts with to create content, make purchases, read emails etc. But there is another component – the server which is hosted by the developer.Often this role is performed by the same software responsible for generating and processing the content on the site. In other words, most often the server side component is a web application that interacts with the mobile client by means of APIs – Application Programming Interface. Thus, in reality the server is the more important component, where information is stored and processed. It is also responsible for synchronization of user data between different devices.Overwhelming majority of these applications are closed source i.e., the source code is hidden from public purview. Therefore, these apps may surreptitiously transmit user’s data in an un-authorized manner to it’s servers.Abuse of Mobile Applications – Explained:Most of these Chinese apps, don’t clearly state what information gets collected from users and how the company shares that information once it’s harvested. As expected, how the data may be used is also deliberately left ambiguous.Most of these Chinese apps collect information far beyond what users provide during the registration/ sign-up stage. For example, they also collect information from third-party social network providers, and technical and behavior information based on the use of the platform. Some, apps also collect information contained in the messages sent through the platform and information from user’s phone book, if access is granted to the same. Thus, data harvested includes data taken from various social media sources like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram if an account holder chooses to link the Chinese app with other platforms. In fact, apps like TikTok even allegedly gather biometric data of it’s users from TikTok videos!This raises serious concern, because many of these apps have close links with People’s Liberation Army or the Chinese government. Worse, even if these apps don’t have clear links with the army or government, they can still be arm-twisted by the authoritarian Communist regime to part with the sensitive user information.Another pertinent aspect is the location of the data centers. Since, most of these Chinese apps have their data centers located in China none of the data is subject to Indian laws. It won’t be an exaggeration to state that these mobile applications have been making fortunes for themselves, while making mockery of Indian laws and privacy of Indian users. Some of these apps don’t even disclose connection to China on their privacy policy page!For these reasons, Chinese apps have frequently found themselves embroiled in controversies around the world. Last year itself, the popular Chinese based video sharing platform TikTok, was sued in USA for illegally stealing information from users and sending it to China, where the app’s parent company ByteDance is situated. The reports by intelligence agencies of several nations have red flagged these Chinese apps over safety and privacy issues of users.Invoking Section 69 of IT Act:Given the current geo-political situation and digital warfare looming large, these apps pose very real threat to sovereignty and integrity of India. India has rightly invoked Section 69 A of the Information Technology Act, read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 to block these Chinese apps.Section 69 A of IT Act: Power to issue directions for blocking for public access of any information through any computer resource -(1) Where the Central Government or any of its officer specially authorized by it in this behalf is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do, in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above, it may subject to the provisions of sub-section (2) for reasons to be recorded in writing, by order, direct any agency of the Government or intermediary to block for access by the public or cause to be blocked for access by the public any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource.These apps in all probability have been illegally and secretly harvesting vast amounts of personally identifiable user information and sending it to China. The data gathered by these apps can be used to identify, profile and track users in India, which raises serious privacy and security concerns for 130+ crore Indian users.Therefore, these mobile applications must come out clean - clearly stated data collection, sharing and usage rights. Besides, they must comply with all the laws of the land, including creation of data servers in India. Till the time, these apps don’t exhibit complete transparency in their operations, they pose grave threat to defenses of India, and must not be allowed to operate in the Indian cyber space.Reference: Why Ban on 59 Chinese Apps is the Way Forward

According to U.S. News & World Report, from October 2015 to October 2016, the number of packages containing weed or weed products rose by over 18 percent over the previous two time periods.Shipping weed through the mail is a federal crime – even though half the states in the country have legalized marijuana in some form.Although data is still being collected and analyzed, simply email highlytrip at protonmail dot com to buy THC oil, affordable and legit source. two of the reasons for this increase are thought to be the following:Better detection techniques and strategiesBetter interaction and communication between law enforcement agenciesThis rise comes despite the 4% decrease in the number of arrests for mailing controlled substances overall.The Risks of Mailing Weed - Can You Mail Weed?Although shipping marijuana is a great way to share and distribute weed, and people do it every day without consequence, it is very stressful because you’re playing with fire.The only way to completely avoid trouble is not shipping weed at all – and if you do, don’t mail more than 28 grams (one ounce) because any punishment rises significantly at that point.Under the Controlled Substances Act, cannabis marijuana is still mysteriously considered a Schedule I drug, which, according to the United States government, means it has great potential for being abused; it also means that it’s not accepted as medicine. Trafficking a Schedule I drug can result in prison time if more than 28 grams is shipped. Shipping weed of more than 50 grams means any sentence will worsen dramatically.If you do insist on shipping marijuana, it’s good to possess a valid medical marijuana card that allows for the possession, transport, and consumption of medical marijuana. However, be aware that this is not always bulletproof.Let’s take a look at some of the risks:Getting caught – obviously, this is your biggest threat because you’re breaking both federal and state laws, which means you could be staring at jail time. Hope you know a good lawyer.Getting lost – for some people, a lost package is worse than anything else because it represents not just lost weed but also lost money. However, keep one thing in mind if a package you send is ever lost: don’t send another package to that address for some time because you never know if the authorities are laying a trap for you.Various charges – for mailing marijuana, you can be charged with a federal crime and/or a state crime in the state from which the shipment originated and/or the state to which it was shipped. Charges can be compounded for the quantity or amount of marijuana; even sending cannabis edibles through the mail can put you at risk. Other charges can apply, as well, such as trafficking.Reward system – Unfortunately, this is not for you, the shipper. Instead, this is for employees of the U.S. Postal Service and private carriers such as UPS, FEDEX, and DHL. For information that leads to the convictions of those who mail illegal substances, workers are offered up to $50,000 as a aware, though, that this does not target just the sender; if you’re the recipient, even unknowingly, you could be charged with conspiracy to distribute an illegal substance.Mailing Marijuana – Does It Matter Where I Ship Marijuana?Yes and no. So let’s take a look at specifics:Mailing Weed Over State LinesIf marijuana is shipped over state lines, it is ruled to be interstate commerce, which means it falls under the jurisdiction of the DEA and the feds. This magnifies the seriousness of any charges you’re subject to.We strongly recommend not shipping marijuana over state lines.Mailing Marijuana From One Legal State to AnotherThe answer is: DON’T DO IT. It’s illegal, although half of the remaining states had legalized weed, it’s considered ‘to be interstate trafficking.’Sending marijuana is always under the Controlled Substances Act (law signed into law in 1970 by the former president Richard Nixon) marijuana is considered as a Schedule 1 drug ‘those with currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.’ So, yes, even sending a small amount from one legal state to another, it’s not worth breaking a federal law!Mailing Instate - The Best Way To Mail WeedIf you want to increase your chances of mailing weed safely, keep it in state. This is, by far, the best way to mail weed.Still, ship it properly to avoid unwanted detection and hassle.In fact, many law enforcement officials are on record saying that they don’t want to waste time on trivial marijuana cases, so if you do ship weed, wrap it and package it well.Mailing Weed InternationallyIf we have problems sending marijuana between legal states, imagine shipping it internationally… First of all: it has to go through customs. Your weed will be a lot of x-rayed when it arrives at the country and if you get caught, the law is even worse when you send drugs internationally. So, we don’t recommend this, AT ALL.The Real WorldAs you know, however, this is the real world, not a fantasy. That means mailing weed safely is not guaranteed despite any precautions you take.It also means that the Feds don’t always abide by the Constitution or respect states’ laws and/or individual rights when it comes to shipping weed. Raids still happen and having packages seized is still common, which could result in various types of trouble, such as arrest at gunpoint or the freezing of bank accounts.Furthermore, feds and other law enforcement have upgraded their drug detection systems, such as x-ray scanners, to detect marijuana or pick up images that can get you in trouble.They also use drug-sniffing dogs to detect odors permeating from packages, containers, and even plastic bags. To increase your chances of avoiding trouble from shipping weed, use airtight bags that zip tight and keep the skunky smell out; remember, a dog’s sense of smell is as much as 100 times more sensitive than yours. If you can smell something, you know the dogs will; and even if you don’t, the dogs still might.One thing to always keep in mind: though shipping marijuana within your state might be less risky, it’s still subject to the strict interpretation of the overzealous Feds, who might do anything to capture or arrest you, regardless of the law.With the legalization of Cannabis in some states, best weed delivery methods are starting to appear (platforms and companies), and you can order weed and weed related products online. If you’re planning on ordering with Eaze we recommend you to check our Eaze coupon code article where we constantly update and add all the new coupon codes.And another safe and great way to ship marijuana is to get a weed subscription box. The vast majority of those products only send paraphernalia, but some other (as The Club M) send weed products directly to your house.How To Mail Weed: What Makes a Package Suspicious?There are a variety of things that can raise suspicion from shipping employees and postal inspectors.Shipping weed box or other items Express (next day service)Using Priority (two- to three-day service)Because these methods can’t be opened without a warrant, allow for tracking, provide specific delivery times, and have a high shipping weight limit (up to 70 pounds) – which make them more reliable, secure, and discrete – they raise a lot of red flags.Other red flags include the following:Names of sender and/or recipient not associated with the addressFake return addressesNon-existent businessesHandwritten labelsNo phone number on labelsPackages in brown paperHeavily taped packagesPackages mailed to or from commercial mail dropsBasic DON’Ts of Shipping MarijuanaTo increase your chances of successfully shipping weed, here are a few things to avoid:Heavily taping the package seamsReusing previous packages or a careless wrappingNot masking the smellMisspelling names or addressesWriting false return addresses or nonexistent ZIP codesPictures or excess markings on the packageRestrictive markings, such as “personal,” “confidential,” or “do not x-ray”Redistribution of weight is felt when package is moved or tilted.List a sender or receiver name of a common type (Such as John Smith)Originate from a drug source stateWhich Shippers Should You Use To Ship Marijuana (And Avoid)?Believe it or not, the carrier you use is important, as not all of them treat the act of shipping weed the same.Mailing Cannabis Through USPS (U.S. Postal Service)Pros: it’s cheap, fast, and you need not write a return addressCon: it falls under the jurisdiction of the Feds (DEA, FBI, etc.)The USPS is an agency of the federal government, so it must obey federal guidelines to the letter. Under U.S. Code 1716, it’s a felony to use the U.S. Postal Service as a method for mailing marijuana, even within the territorial limits of pot-legal states such Washington, Colorado, and California.Thus, you might be surprised to learn that many veteran shippers prefer the USPS to UPS, DHL, and/or FEDEX because it has clear requirements restricting the number of random package inspections. This protection falls under the Fourth Amendment, which states that postal inspectors can only get a search warrant when it’s based on probable cause.Otherwise, employees are not allowed to open and inspect mail and parcels.However, you can be busted and subject to punishment such as fines and/or jail time if the following applies:USPS employees are allowed, via a search warrant, to open a package suspected of containing marijuanaThe package has traveled or will travel over state linesMarijuana is illegal in a given stateThe quantity shipped is over specified state limitsAccording to the USPS itself, the Fourth Amendment protects first class letters and parcels from being searched and seized.Don’t forget a crucial tidbit, though – federal law trumps all other laws of the land, including state laws. Thus, mailing marijuana is illegal regardless of method of transport.Shipping weed via the USPS offers a modicum of protection against search and seizure, which understandably seems to make it the safest way to ship marijuana. Yet, as a Federal entity, the US postal service complies and works with the DEA to enforce anti-trafficking laws. And once a package containing marijuana crosses state lines, it’s instantly a federal crime, which exacerbates the issue considerably.The consequences? It comes in the form of punishment of up to a year in federal prison and/or a fine as high as $250,000.Sending Weed Through UPS, FEDEX, and DHLPros: they're private companies.Con: employess steal and you're required to put a return address.These private entities have the right to open and inspect any package at their own discretion and without any cause for suspicion. They are not federal agencies, so if they come across a suspicious package, they don’t have to obtain a warrant to open, search, and seize it.In fact, it’s been ruled by the Supreme Court that the act of allowing a private third-party entity to handle your package means you forfeit the right to any expectation of privacy.Even worse, these large private carriers have shown time and again that they are willing to comply with federal regulations and cooperate with federal law enforcement to crack down on mailing marijuana and other illegal drug trafficking offenses via courier. Here are two of the more famous recent examples of this:In 2013, UPS was forced to pay a settlement of $40 million for a federal probe into shipping drugs from illegal online pharmacies.In 2014, FedEx was indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances because it was deemed responsible for transporting illegal painkillers and other prescription drugs.Although neither case involved shipping marijuana, it’s proof that private carriers such as UPS, DHL, and FEDEX will comply with the Feds and monitor packages for illegal drugs.Do These to Limit Your RisksYou’ve already read about what not to do should you insist on mailing marijuana. But here are several things you can do to limit your risks of getting in major trouble:Use vacuum-sealed bagsLayer the weeda- Layer the marijuana with several bags – the first bag contains the weed and should be sealed tightly. Then put that bag inside several other ones to keep the odor at bayb- To further prevent any trace of weed odor, each of the additional bags should be washed with soap and water after each bag is addedAvoid using masking scentsa- Scents do not cover up other scentsb- Besides, dogs smell all scentsUse a brand new boxApply a shipping labelIf you're required to put a return address, don't use the nam of an individuala- Instead, use a business nameSend via U.S. Postal Servicea- Send priority mailb- Pay with cashThese things are the difference between the recipient enjoying their weed or both of you ending up in court.FINAL WORDLegalization of marijuana continues to sweep the country, and the legal medical and recreational marijuana marketplace continues to grow.So, too, does the lure of shipping weed through the mail, which makes it easy to get complacent.Don’t be fooled. Be diligent about shipping marijuana through the mail.Although half the states in the country plus the District of Columbia have legalized weed, shipping marijuana through the postal system or via courier remains illegal. And because of this increase in the number of states legalizing weed, the DEA is keeping a close eye of packages being shipped now more than ever.Federal law still considers marijuana illegal, and despite being legal in 25 states, mailing vape cartridges, edibles or any type of weed products (or even transporting it across state lines) is still illegal.The bottom line is this – Can you mail weed? Well, you can, but you’re still committing a crime anytime you’re mailing marijuana.If you leave in some of the medical states, you should check these weed delivery services as an alternative to mailing thc edibles or weed.