Blogposts

A comprehensive look at Covid Surveillance and Privacy in India #SaveOurPrivacy

IFF has authored a comprehensive working paper to inform public policy formation in India, including a substantive analysis of the use and publication of health data, specific development of surveillance technologies and deployment of contact tracing through device applications.

13 April, 2020

5 min read

Apar Gupta

Surveillance

The need to investigate the NSO Group, which was behind the Pegasus software, is now more than ever. #SaveOurPrivacy

We wrote to the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh urging them to establish committees to investigate the Whatsapp hack. Our key recommendations were to include victim and expert testimony in the investigation which should be carried out in a transparent manner.

10 April, 2020

3 min read

Anushka Jain

Covid

SC issues notice in FMP’s petition seeking restoration of 4G internet services in Jammu & Kashmir during COVID-19 crisis #KeepUsOnline

Today, a 3 judge bench of the Supreme Court issued notice in a petition filed by Foundation for Media Professionals against the internet slowdown in Jammu & Kashmir during the COVID-19 crisis.

09 April, 2020

3 min read

Devdutta Mukhopadhyay

internet shutdowns

Can’t Drop the Ball on Internet Shutdown Reform #KeepUsOnline

We wrote to the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs urging for review of the Telecom Suspension Rules 2017 based on public consultation and economic impact assessment.

04 April, 2020

3 min read

Devdutta Mukhopadhyay

SaveOurPrivacy

Quarantine lists breach individual privacy! Social solidarity in times of Covid-19 #SaveOurPrivacy

We have written to the Government to issue advisories against lists of persons who are suspected or potentially infected with Covid-19 from being circulated on social media and WhatsApp groups.

30 March, 2020

4 min read

Apar Gupta

drones

Delhi Police admits to using drones on civilians without any publicly available legal guidelines in place #SaveOurPrivacy

With reports now emerging that the Delhi Police is using drones to check for people who are breaking the curfew in Delhi, we examine responses we have received in reply to Right to Information requests filed about the usage of drones in Delhi in February.

27 March, 2020

4 min read

Anushka Jain

internet shutdowns

Internet slowdown in Jammu and Kashmir could cost lives during COVID 19 pandemic #KeepUsOnline

IFF wrote to the Jammu and Kashmir Government and Ministry of Home Affairs seeking restoration of 4G internet services in Kashmir during the COVID 19 crisis.

26 March, 2020

3 min read

Devdutta Mukhopadhyay

66A

Marking the 5 year anniversary of the Shreya Singhal Judgement #FreeToMeme

5 years ago a division bench of the Supreme Court composed of Justices Chalameshwar and Nariman laid down an important foundation for internet freedom that is today under threat.

24 March, 2020

3 min read

Farkhanda Zahoor

facial recognition

IFF proposes a three year moratorium on the use of Facial Recognition Technology in India #ProjectPanoptic

Use of facial recognition technology in India is on the rise. We shared a letter with the Ministries of Home Affairs and Law and Justice requesting for a halt on ongoing use of facial recognition systems by both the central government and state governments.

23 March, 2020

3 min read

Farkhanda Zahoor

Policy

Read IFF’s Response to the Draft Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2020. Our Ask? Hold Big Tech Accountable

IFF responded to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs; draft Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2020 . We suggest ways in which the Government could strengthen and streamline its institutions. We also stress on the need for India’s competition laws to reflect challenges emerging from technology markets.

20 March, 2020

6 min read

Sidharth Deb

Blogposts

Donate to IFF