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IFF Public Policy Team

IFF Public Policy Team

Aadhaar undermines informational privacy and data protection

When the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) was launched more than a year ago, we had a spirited conversation on taking forward our work from SaveTheInternet.in and net neutrality. What brought us together was a shared passion for protecting the open internet and the digital rights of users. We strongly felt that this couldn't be done without protecting the privacy of individuals [https://static.internetfreedom.in/issues-privacy/]. Our very fundamental notions and protections of privacy and data
23 November, 2017
1 min read
IFF Public Policy TeamIFF Public Policy Team
Privacy

We call on the TRAI to protect user privacy in the Indian telecom sector!

Fresh off the historic nine judge decision of the Supreme Court holding privacy as a fundamental right, IFF has called on the TRAI to protect user privacy and data protection in its ongoing public consultation “Privacy, Security and Ownership of the Data in the Telecom Sector”. We previously posted a short summary [https://www.internetfreedom.in/summary-of-the-consultation-paper-on-privacy-security-and-ownership-of-the-data/] of this consultation paper back in September. You can read our full
07 November, 2017
2 min read
IFF Public Policy TeamIFF Public Policy Team

Urgent Release: Government Committee wants to bring back Section 66A

Press reports over the past few days have indicated various government proposals, notably the for the introduction of a fresh Section 66A. The Internet Freedom Foundation is releasing a copy of these recommendations to public and calling for a consultation. Struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015, Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 was the unconstitutional tool used to curb free speech on social media. The Section had been used to arrest a number of internet users voicing thei
11 October, 2017
2 min read
IFF Public Policy TeamIFF Public Policy Team

Summary of the Consultation Paper on Privacy, Security and Ownership of the Data in the Telecom Sector

Chapter I – Introduction and Background The evolution of telecommunications services in the recent times has been of great advantage by aiding the overall economic and social development of the country, enabling better connectivity among users and emergence of a variety of new business models and increasing the use of information and communication technology services (ICT) services. Moreover, the user’s interaction with the modern ICT services through any form of content lately has increased the
18 September, 2017
7 min read
IFF Public Policy TeamIFF Public Policy Team

Blocking orders to Twitter illustrate a worrying process #GOIBlocks

This week, media reports have indicated that the Government of India on August 16, 2017, and August 24, 2017 issued a terse letter directing the blocking of twitter handles, hashtags, and individual tweets. This includes a tweet from the news wire service ANI and parody/gossip handles such as @LutyensMasala and @LutyensSpice. These blocking orders call for urgent focus on the problematic process and legality of website blocking in India. What do the letters say? The letters which have been issu
08 September, 2017
2 min read
IFF Public Policy TeamIFF Public Policy Team

IFF presses for interim reliefs in the WhatsApp Privacy Case

We had earlier updated [https://www.internetfreedom.in/iff-will-represent-your-digital-rights-in-the-whatsapp-privacy-case/] that IFF has intervened in a case involving issues of online privacy and licensing of online platforms before the Supreme Court of India. This case arises from a challenge to the change in WhatsApp’s privacy policy, after which it began sharing data with Facebook. Through the WhatsApp case, we hope to carry forward our promise [https://static.internetfreedom.in/statement
07 September, 2017
2 min read
IFF Public Policy TeamIFF Public Policy Team

The Government of India taking clear action to prevent internet shutdowns? No, not really

Press reports [https://www.medianama.com/2017/08/223-internet-shutdowns-india/] have revealed that the Union Government’s Department of Telecom has issued rules on governing network disruptions or internet shutdowns in India. Titled the “Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017” [http://www.dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/Suspension%20Rules.pdf?download=1] and issued by the Centre under Section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act, they were quietly pub
28 August, 2017
3 min read
IFF Public Policy TeamIFF Public Policy Team
Legal

IFF will represent your digital rights in the WhatsApp Privacy Case

Today a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court heard the WhatsApp Privacy Case—Karmaya Singh Sareen v. Union of India SLP (C) No. 804 of 2017—in which the Internet Freedom Foundation intervened to make submissions. The other parties in the case included the Petitioner, the Union Government and private platforms, WhatsApp and Facebook Inc. This case comes from an appeal against a Delhi High Court judgment last year, in a case where two students had filed a legal petition challenging the change
27 April, 2017
2 min read
IFF Public Policy TeamIFF Public Policy Team
Censorship

Statement of concern on the Sabu Mathew George Case : Don’t “auto-block” online expression

The Supreme Court of India has over the past one year passed various orders in the case of Sabu Mathew George v. Union of India & Ors. [WP(C) 341/2008] that are undermining internet freedom, particularly the right of free expression online. The case concerns allegations that search engines are acting in contravention of S. 22 of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) insofar as they are showing results rela
20 February, 2017
4 min read
IFF Public Policy TeamIFF Public Policy Team
Featured

This Republic Day, help us fight for your rights online

2016 was a year of impact. Thanks to over a million voices of Indians like you, net neutrality was front and centre in government offices, newsrooms, and the floor of our Parliament, resulting in the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) announcing the first set of rules to safeguard an open internet and prevent discrimination from corporate lobbies. The overwhelming support we received on the Save The Internet campaign led to us launching the Internet Freedom Foundation -- a volunteer d
26 January, 2017
2 min read
IFF Public Policy TeamIFF Public Policy Team

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