Latest news with #GauravSahay
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Cert-In issues advisory after data breach of 16 billion credentials, asks people to change passwords
NEW DELHI: Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-In) has issued a fresh advisory asking people to follow good cybersecurity hygiene following reports of a massive data breach involving 16 billion online credentials. FILE - The breach, first reported by the website Cybernews, includes usernames, passwords, authentication tokens, and metadata leaked from multiple platforms. (AP) The breach, first reported by the website Cybernews, includes usernames, passwords, authentication tokens, and metadata leaked from platforms such as Apple, Google, Facebook, Telegram, GitHub, and several VPN services. 'This appears to be a consolidated dataset, and some of the credentials may be outdated or already changed. However, we're issuing the advisory to urge people to follow good cybersecurity hygiene,' a senior official at Cert-In, the country's nodal agency for cybersecurity incident response, said. The advisory was first released on Monday. The agency has urged individuals to update their passwords immediately, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), and switch to passkeys wherever possible. The advisory also recommends running antivirus scans and keeping systems up to date to protect against malware. The cybersecurity agency advised organisations to enforce MFA, limit user access, and use intrusion detection systems (IDS) and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools to detect suspicious activity. It also recommended that companies check that their database aren't publicly exposed and ensure that sensitive data is encrypted. The massive dataset, which is believed to be available on the dark web, has been reportedly compiled from 30 different sources, mostly through infostealer malware. The dataset could enable attackers to carry out phishing, account takeovers, ransomware attacks, and business email compromises, said the Cert-In advisory. 'This is a systemic red flag,' said Gaurav Sahay, cybersecurity expert and founding partner at Arthashastra Legal. 'The breach is decentralised, harder to detect, and much more difficult to fix. We're likely to see a wave of account takeovers, especially on cloud/email services, banking or fintech apps, developer platforms, and government portals.' Sahay added that password reuse remains rampant, and the lack of MFA on many accounts makes even older credentials dangerous. 'This is a watershed moment in cybersecurity, a reminder that the human element remains the weakest link in digital security.'
Mint
16-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
SC ruling clears way for dual tax on broadcasters—consumers may pay the price
New Delhi: A recent Supreme Court ruling allowing both central and state governments to impose separate taxes on direct-to-home and cable TV services has rattled India's broadcast sector, already reeling from shrinking margins and digital disruption. While the judgment technically applies to the pre-GST (goods and services tax) era, its implications are far-reaching. Broadcasters now face a potential wave of retrospective tax demands, and the verdict may set a precedent for state-level levies on digital streaming, gaming, and other online content platforms—currently outside such frameworks. Industry insiders warn this could drive up compliance costs, hurt profitability, and accelerate market consolidation. Read this | Will ZEE5's new slate of content, regional push, and micro-drama help it win the OTT war? 'The dual financial burden could affect the profitability and sustainability of broadcasting operations, particularly for indigenous players operating on thinner margins. Coupled with revenue constraints, broadcasters will pass this increased liability down the value chain to consumers," said Gaurav Sahay, founder partner, Arthashastra Legal. The legal uncertainty and litigation risk arising from such dual taxation may also disincentivize investment and innovation in the broadcasting sector, impeding its strategic evolution, Sahay added. The judgment, delivered on 23 May, stated that since broadcasting is a taxable service under the Finance Act, 1994, Parliament has the power to impose service tax, while state legislatures are equally competent to levy entertainment tax on those providing the service. Karthik Mani, partner, indirect tax, BDO India, an accounting firm said that broadcasters had typically paid service tax on their revenues, and the dispute was with respect to the levy of entertainment tax by the states on the same revenue. Since the Supreme Court has upheld the validity of levy of entertainment tax charged by the state governments, in the cases, where the demands of entertainment tax had been raised on the broadcasters, they will now have to also pay the same, said Mani. However, under the GST regime, from 1 July 2017, entertainment tax levied by the state governments as well as service tax levied by the Centre were subsumed under GST. That said, for the past period, it would be difficult for broadcasters to be able to collect the entertainment tax, and they may need to bear the impact of past demands, according to Mani. The timing is especially challenging. Traditional broadcasters are already navigating multiple headwinds - rising content costs, declining advertising revenues, and intense competition from OTT platforms. The added cost burden could shrink access to premium content for price-sensitive viewers and reduce investment in regional or vernacular programming. 'With compliance now required under two regimes, increased operational costs are likely. Broadcasters, working under tight margins in a highly competitive environment, may inevitably transfer this burden to end consumers through higher subscription fees or reduced service quality," said Prateek Bedi, assistant professor – finance and accounting at IMI (International Management Institute). "Over time, consumers may see fewer choices and less regional or vernacular content — a cost not captured in monetary terms but critical for cultural inclusion," Bedi added. The decision also threatens to raise the bar for market entry, especially for smaller startups and content creators who lack the compliance muscle of larger incumbents. Read this | Legal experts warn of increasing IP infringement as AI and digital platforms proliferate A senior broadcast industry executive emphasized that local players already face stiff competition from global streaming giants with deeper pockets and efficient tax planning mechanisms. 'The imposition of concurrent state entertainment taxes risks widening this gap by escalating operating costs for domestic players, possibly leading to market consolidation and reduced consumer choice," the executive added. The bigger worry, though, is what this means for digital platforms. 'The court emphasized that entertainment delivered digitally qualifies as a 'luxury', which opens the door for states to now explore levying entertainment taxes on digital content consumption, in addition to the existing GST," said Snigdhaneel Satpathy, partner at Saraf and Partners. Also read | OTT Monetization Model: Where paywalled content piggybacks ad-led shows Such a shift would further fragment India's tax environment, raise compliance costs for tech platforms, and risk pushing subscription costs higher—mirroring the pressure now faced by broadcasters, Satpathy said. Senior broadcast executives said industry bodies are still deliberating a collective response, and that discussions are ongoing. The potential liability will vary by broadcaster, depending on their market share and geographic reach.
Mint
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
I&B ministry issues advisory to streaming platforms to take down Pakistani content
The ministry of information and broadcasting issued an advisory on Thursday asking all streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India to immediately stop showing Pakistani content such as web series, films, songs and podcasts. This would include content made available on a subscription-based model or otherwise, a statement from the ministry added. The advisory referred to the IT Rules, 2021 which cites any information that "threatens the unity, integrity, defence, security, sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign States, or public order.' Several terrorist attacks in India have cross-border linkages with Pakistan-based state and non-state actors, the statement said, citing the 22 April terrorist attack in Pahalgam. To be sure, viewing Pakistani YouTube channels, music videos, or web series is not unlawful unless the content itself is specifically prohibited or blocked under Indian law, according to legal experts. However, should diplomatic or security conditions deteriorate significantly, it is within the government's power to issue broader directions to limit access to Pakistani content. Over the years, Pakistani series like Tere Bin, Khuda Aur Mohabbat, and Ishq Murshid have gained popularity in India due to their storytelling, production standards, and cultural relevance. Digital access, especially via YouTube has allowed these shows to bypass traditional TV networks, building a thriving fan-base across India. Besides YouTube, services like ZEE5's Zindagi and UrduFlix had further expanded this reach in recent years, offering both classic and contemporary Pakistani content. This renewed interest had followed a hiatus post-2016, with digital platforms offering a fresh, direct way to engage a younger, more tech-savvy Indian audience, who are drawn to the authenticity and relatable themes of these shows. 'The regulatory mandate in India creates a dual structure, wherein the platforms may self-regulate proactively, but they must comply with any formal directions issued by the State. While the platforms hosting Pakistani content may exercise editorial discretion to host or remove such content, however, this discretion is not absolute, the Government of India does have the legal authority to issue binding directions to these platforms requiring them to block or take down content, including specifically for access in India,' said Gaurav Sahay, founder partner, Arthashastra Legal.
