In this post, we highlight the conflict between efficiency and privacy posed by a key component of the internet: cookies. While cookies presently perform a lot of key functions in ensuring a smooth user experience, they also raise concerns about user privacy and data collection as we discuss here.
Bharat Financial Inclusion Limited recently admitted to disbursing 84,000 loans without customer consent owing to a ‘technical glitch’. Though the bank took some steps upon the receipt of the complaints, there is little regulatory oversight and acknowledgement of these instances in general.
News publishers were sent notices under the IT Rules, even after major parts of the IT Rules were stayed. The MIB said that news publishers have only offered this information “voluntarily”, i.e. that there is no compulsion to respond to them.
The regulator in Bangladesh invited comments on draft rules which are similar to IT Rules, 2021. In response, IFF has submitted a report which details India's experience with IT Rules, 2021.
Calcutta HC has stayed an internet shutdown order dated 03.03.2022 issued by the State of West Bengal. The HC was of the view that the order was not issued by a competent authority. The order was stayed in a petition filed by Ashlesh Biradar. IFF provided legal support.
In response to an RTI Application, the State of Rajasthan has stated that their review committee does not meet or review internet shutdown orders. This is contrary to Rule 2(6) of Telecom Suspension Rules, 2017. We have filed a first appeal seeking clarity from the State.
We respond to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's Draft Data Access Policy. The policy raises serious privacy concerns due to its perverse economic incentives on data sharing.
To assist challenges to IT Rules, we reached out to Oxford Pro Bono Publico (OPBP) - a research centre at the Oxford University, requesting research on laws in other countries on social media platforms, digital news media and OTT platforms. OPBP has published their research report in December 2021.
For the month of February 2022, IFF has filed 36 RTI requests and 3 first appeals.
IFF submitted comments in the ongoing consultation for India Digital Ecosystem Architecture (InDEA) 2.0 released by the MeitY in January 2022. Our core approach is towards ensuring that the rollout of the architecture happens in a manner that safeguards the rights of the user.