This refers to the report "Pvt email ids expose offices to snoop threat" (November 27). It is an irony that India being an information technology superpower is yet to develop desi social networking sites on the lines of Facebook and Twitter. Why blame government officials for using private e-mail ids on websites such as Google and Yahoo when even the Prime Minister's Office, the Election Commission, and politicians use social networking sites. China has taken steps to make the internet less American-centred. It has a Twitter-like social networking site - Sina Weibo - that has millions of users. China also developed a search engine called Baidu. Then why not India? The National Informatics Centre, in association with the Indian Space Research Organisation, should offer e-mail services to the general public. Why can't Indian information technology giants such as Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, and Infosys among others, offer the same to the public? If we have the resources to launch the Mars Orbiter Mission, then why can't we have our own social networking sites? Electronic typewriters are making a comeback in the Russian government to avoid snoop threats. Our old and trusted telegram service could be used by the government departments to avoid snooping.
Deendayal M Lulla, Mumbai
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