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Farkhanda Zahoor

Farkhanda Zahoor

2021

2021: Building a stronger IFF with Community and Operations

Donate to help sustain our work [https://static.internetfreedom.in/donate/] Fundraising : In numbers IFF’s fundraising model is based on individualised giving and the membership programme (recurring donations) has always been at the core of it. Over the past year, our membership base grew to 427 recurring donors, donating at an average of Rs. 800 on a month to month basis. However, after the new RBI guidelines on recurring transactions [https://www.cnbctv18.com/personal-finance/faqs-rbis-new-a
30 December, 2021
8 min read
Shivani SinghShivani Singh, Farkhanda ZahoorFarkhanda Zahoor & Ashlesh BiradarAshlesh Biradar
Censorship

Statement: Today’s notification on online news media and OTT platforms will require greater vigilance #LetUsChill

The Central Government has notified the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) as having jurisdiction over online news and also OTT video streaming platforms.
11 November, 2020
3 min read
Farkhanda ZahoorFarkhanda Zahoor
66A

Update on IFF’s Zombie Tracker

IFF, in collaboration with CivicDataLab, is building a “Zombie Tracker” to track cases under S. 66A, Information Technology Act, at the district level. S.66A of the IT Act is termed as a legal zombie since, even though it was declared unconstitutional in 2015, its use is ongoing.
08 July, 2020
4 min read
Farkhanda ZahoorFarkhanda Zahoor
Section66A

How A Bill Becomes A Zombie? The Journey of Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000

Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, was enacted into the statute through an amendment in 2008. The section penalised sending "offensive messages" via online communication. In this post we trace the journey of Section 66A of the IT Act from 2008 to 2020.
18 May, 2020
8 min read
Farkhanda ZahoorFarkhanda Zahoor
aarogyasetu

We Studied the Protocol: And No This Doesn’t Sufficiently Protect Your Privacy

According to our analysis on the Aarogya Setu Data Access and Knowledge Sharing Protocol released by MeitY on May 11, 2020, the protocol falls considerably short of principles of legality, necessity and proportionality.
13 May, 2020
8 min read
Farkhanda ZahoorFarkhanda Zahoor
Surveillance

Is Aarogya Setu privacy-first? Nope, but it could be-- If the government wanted. #SaveOurPrivacy

IFF’s Working Paper, analyses the Aarogya Setu application, highlights how it is inconsistent with the right to privacy, is conceivably a risk toward a permanent system of mass surveillance, and suggests clear recommendations to arrest these risks.
14 April, 2020
7 min read
Farkhanda ZahoorFarkhanda Zahoor
66A

Marking the 5 year anniversary of the Shreya Singhal Judgement #FreeToMeme

5 years ago a division bench of the Supreme Court composed of Justices Chalameshwar and Nariman laid down an important foundation for internet freedom that is today under threat.
24 March, 2020
3 min read
Farkhanda ZahoorFarkhanda Zahoor
facial recognition

IFF proposes a three year moratorium on the use of Facial Recognition Technology in India #ProjectPanoptic

Use of facial recognition technology in India is on the rise. We shared a letter with the Ministries of Home Affairs and Law and Justice requesting for a halt on ongoing use of facial recognition systems by both the central government and state governments.
23 March, 2020
3 min read
Farkhanda ZahoorFarkhanda Zahoor
facial recognition

Illegal use of Facial Recognition for Voter Verification in Telangana #ProjectPanoptic

IFF filed RTI requests with the Telangana State Election Commission and Telangana State Technology Services pursuant to the use of Facial Recognition Technology for voter verification in the urban local body elections in Kompally in January, 2020.
17 March, 2020
4 min read
Farkhanda ZahoorFarkhanda Zahoor
Surveillance

RTI response reveals CCTV deployment by Chandigarh Police without legal safeguards #ProjectPanoptic

IFF filed an RTI with the Chandigarh Police regarding their use of CCTVs in the city of Chandigarh and received a total of 5 responses from different departments. We have summarized these responses and also listed the immediate concerns which should be addressed by the Chandigarh Police.
02 March, 2020
3 min read
Farkhanda ZahoorFarkhanda Zahoor

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