Blogposts

Right to Information
Featured

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

In the month of August, IFF has filed 64 RTI requests, 5 First Appeals and 1 Second Appeal. In this report, we give you an overview of the requests filed and an analysis of the responses we have received from the different public authorities.
06 September, 2021
9 min read
YashaswiniYashaswini & Anushka JainAnushka Jain
savetheinternet
Featured

Hands off our VPNs! #SaveTheInternet

The Standing Committee on Home Affairs recently reiterated its stance that VPNs be permanently blocked. We wrote to the MHA, highlighting why VPNs are important and asking for the committee’s proposal to be put through a public consultation.
04 September, 2021
6 min read
Rohin GargRohin Garg
internet shutdowns
Featured

Ahead of its visit to J&K, IFF apprised the Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT of repeated internet shutdowns

We addressed a letter to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, travelling to Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). The letter highlighted that the government was shutting down the internet in J&K without complying with the Supreme Court’s directions in Anuradha Bhasin vs Union of India.
03 September, 2021
5 min read
Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh & Anandita MishraAnandita Mishra
Featured

We will provide pro-bono legal support for those who speak truth to power. Launching the Digital Patrakar Defence Clinic.

When journalists are under threat, truth is under threat. IFF, in collaboration with the Foundation for Media Professionals (FMP), has launched the Digital Patrakar Defence Clinic (DPDC). In this post we describe the need for DPDC, who can apply for help; and the pro-bono help we offer.
02 September, 2021
4 min read
Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh
accesstointernet
Featured

The E Shram Portal: An Explainer

On 26th August, 2021, the Labour Minister Bhupender Yadav launched the E-Shram portal. The portal will help unorganised workers receive social security benefits. We decided to create this explainer to help you understand what the portal is and what are the various issues facing the portal.
01 September, 2021
6 min read
Rohin GargRohin Garg
Access to Information
Featured

MeitY blocks information about Actor Sushant Singh’s account takedown

Twitter unilaterally and arbitrarily suspended the account of Sushant Singh (@sushant_says) twice, i.e. on February 1 and May 26, 2021. We helped him file RTI requests with the Meity, DoT and MHA. Meity invoked the 2009 Blocking Rules and the RTI Act to deny information to Mr. Singh.
30 August, 2021
5 min read
Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh
accesstointernet
Featured

We wrote to the Department of Financial Services asking them to conduct a consultation on the E-Rupi programme

We wrote to the Department of Financial Services about the E-Rupi. We pointed out several issues such as surveillance and financial exploitation, the lack of data protection, and exclusion. We suggested that a consultation be conducted, and that data protection norms be specified.
30 August, 2021
6 min read
Rohin GargRohin Garg
DOT
Featured

Is the DoT doing a rethink on net neutrality? We press for transparency and enforcement #SaveTheInternet

We were alarmed by a recent report that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is citing fiscal constraints in establishing a Multi Stakeholder Body (MSB). We wrote to the DoT, pressing for transparency and enforcement of net neutrality.
26 August, 2021
6 min read
YashaswiniYashaswini & Rohin GargRohin Garg
Health Data
Featured

IFF's recommendations for the United Health Interface

IFF has submitted its comments on the NDHM’s consultation paper on the Unified Health Interface.Our comments are focused on five key issues: the need for diverse feedback, market capture by the private sector, digital exclusion, financial exploitation, and the need for public digital infrastructure.
24 August, 2021
5 min read
Rohin GargRohin Garg
digital Rights
Featured

The E-Rupi Scheme: An Explainer

Recently, the PM launched the E-Rupi voucher programme. Given that these vouchers are supposed to transform the digital payments system and assist in vaccine delivery, we thought we’d create an explainer on the scheme. This is our attempt at helping people understanding the programme.
21 August, 2021
6 min read
Rohin GargRohin Garg

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