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Tejasi Panjiar

Tejasi Panjiar

An Unfair Argument i.e. “Fair Share”: Decoding Telcos' Demand for OTT Regulation, and Unravelling Implications on Net Neutrality, User Costs, and Fairness.

We analyse the increasing demands for regulation of OTT services by TSPs and also break down the TSP's rationale for demanding their "fair share" of the stolen profits from OTT services. Lastly, we explore policy implications of such paternalistic regulation of OTT services.
12 June, 2023
6 min read

Meta - 1, Human Rights & platform accountability - 0.

Meta shareholders voted on Proposal 7 at the Meta Annual General Meeting on May 31. As per the preliminary voting results, Proposal 7 did not garner enough support from the shareholders and thus, the outcome was not in its favour.
06 June, 2023
5 min read

Proposal calling for accountability in India at Meta's AGM on May 31, 2023

Meta is set to hold its Annual General Meeting on May 31. Proposal 7 which addresses content regulation in India and the outcome of the votes for Proposal 7 bear significance for the Indian audience. This campaign, jointly launched by Eko, ICWI, and IFF, urges shareholders to vote Yes to Proposal 7.
26 May, 2023
2 min read

MeitY's response to our RTI requests on GAC: delayed, denied, deficient.

MeitY responded to our 1st appeal on the RTI application pertaining to the functional and operational processes of the Grievance Appellate Committees (GAC). This post summarises the Ministry’s response (or the lack thereof) to our 1st appeal, and elaborates on our concerns denied information.
19 May, 2023
7 min read

Mayday Alert: 14 mobile apps banned, no blocking order released. #WhatTheBlock

In May 2023, 14 mobile apps that provided end-to-end encrypted and peer-to-peer messaging services were reportedly banned. Reasoned blocking orders and a pre-decisional hearing were reportedly not provided to these apps. IFF filed a series of RTI applications to seek more information.
10 May, 2023
7 min read

@PIBFCU, check your inbox, you got mail.

The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) online Fact Check Unit (FCU) account claimed that an article published by The Wire, and authored by two IFF staffers, is misleading. We wrote to them seeking clarification on these claims.
26 April, 2023
5 min read

IT Amendment Rules, 2023 are a nightmare, dressed like a fact checking daydream

The notified IT Amendment Rules, 2023 regulate online gaming and misinformation. They provide for the establishment of a fact check unit (“FCU”), by the Union government, to fact check online information related to the Union government. In this Public Brief, we analyse the hits and misses.
21 April, 2023
7 min read

Budget Session 2023: A Digital Rights Review

The Budget Session was adjourned sine die on April 06, 2023 in both Houses of Parliament amidst protests from the Opposition and treasury benches. In this post, we take a look at the disruptions during the Session, and analyse how the Parliament fared with respect to digital rights.
14 April, 2023
10 min read

Statement on the notification of the IT Amendment Rules, 2023

IFF's statement on the notified IT Amendment Rules, 2023, in relation to online gaming and fact checking by a government unit. Read our concerns regarding the impact on online free speech here.
06 April, 2023
2 min read

1 month of the GAC felt like a lifetime! We wrote to them seeking answers.

MeitY established three Grievance Appellate Committee(s) (“GAC”) on January 27, 2023 under Rule 3A of the notified IT Amendment Rules, 2022. We wrote to the Chairpersons of the three Committees, seeking clarification about the GAC’s establishment and functioning.
05 April, 2023
3 min read

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