Blogposts

Featured

MoUs for algorithms and data for profit: 4 new MoUs signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and private corporations, including Jio and Cisco.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has recently signed 4 more Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreements regarding the Agristack with Cisco, Ninjakart, ITC Limited, and Jio. In this post, we analyse these MoUs, and explain the issues that arise as a result.

19 October, 2021

8 min read

Rohin Garg

freespeech

Featured

IFF writes to Google India about recent instances of YouTube copyright strikes

We write to Google India highlighting that action taken upon copyright complaints is based on an incorrect application of copyright law and YouTube’s policies and, therefore, threatens press freedom and is in violation of the constitutional rights of digital media reporters and its audience.

18 October, 2021

4 min read

Anandita Mishra &

Tanmay Singh

competition

Big Opportunity! CCI accepts IFF’s expert information in its investigation of WhatsApp’s 2021 Privacy Policy

IFF has submitted expert information before the DG of CCI in charge of the investigation into WhatsApp's Privacy Policy. We highlighted how WhatsApp has a dominant position in the market, and how the Privacy Policy abuses such dominant position. The CCI tagged the information with the investigation.

14 October, 2021

4 min read

Tanmay Singh

cybersecurity

Featured

Don’t penalise cybersecurity researchers!

We wrote to CERT-IN regarding their new Responsible Vulnerability Disclosure and Coordination Policy that penalises cybersecurity researchers for vulnerability disclosures. Such a policy would make researchers reluctant about reporting vulnerabilities and so a robust disclosure mechanism is needed.

13 October, 2021

4 min read

Rohin Garg

aadhaar

Featured

IFF submits its comments on the Draft Aadhaar (Pricing of Aadhaar Authentication Services) Regulations

We have provided our comments on the Draft Aadhaar (Pricing of Aadhaar Authentication Services) Regulations 2021. In our comments, we recommended that Aadhaar authentication charges be scrapped and private entities be barred from acting as ‘requesting entities’ for authentication.

08 October, 2021

5 min read

Rohin Garg

COWIN

Featured

Read our Joint Letter with C-Help & FMES to NHA on CoWIN’s updated API #SaveOurPrivacy

We wrote to the National Health Authority with C-Help & FMES on their updated API which would allow government and private entities to know the vaccination status of individuals.

05 October, 2021

6 min read

Anushka Jain

transparency

Featured

Digital Transparency: A Right to Information Report for September, 2021

In September, IFF filed IFF has filed 26 RTI requests and 3 First Appeals with various public authorities to uncover vital information on issues of public interest.

04 October, 2021

8 min read

Yashaswini

PDPB

#PrivacyOfThePeople: Gig and app-based workers

In the latest post in our #PrivacyOfThePeople series, we look at the impact of the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 on gig workers. We examine the minimal data rights provided to these workers by work agreements, how the PDPB would affect these conditions, and how these issues can be remedied.

30 September, 2021

5 min read

Rohin Garg

DPDC

Digital Patrakar Defence Clinic is back again for October!

IFF in collaboration with FMP launched DPDC in September to provide pro bono legal assistance to journalists. DPDC will continue to provide pro bono legal assistance throughout the year. In this post we highlight who can apply for the Clinic, and the pro bono legal services offered.

29 September, 2021

3 min read

Anandita Mishra