Catergory

freespeech

freespeech

Indore administration curbs speech on social media

Indore administration issued an over-broad order under Section 144(1) CrPC, 1973 banning speech related to Covid-19 on social media platforms. We have filed an application before the Collector, Indore seeking withdrawal of the Order.
10 May, 2021
6 min read
Krishnesh BapatKrishnesh Bapat
accesstointernet

MEITY responds to our representation to unblock Twitter accounts. Confirms orders and denies disclosure.

In February, we had written to MeitY with regards to the blocking of Twitter accounts. MeitY responded to us recently, saying that they did nothing wrong. We have written back to the Ministry this week explaining how they are constitutionally required to disclose the blocking orders.
10 May, 2021
5 min read
Rohin GargRohin Garg & Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh
RTI

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

Since our last report in the month of March, IFF has filed 7 RTI requests. Here, we give you an overview of the requests filed and why demanding transparency from government authorities is one of the key elements in our fight to protect digital rights which has taken a hit in the lockdown.
05 May, 2021
3 min read
Anushka JainAnushka Jain
Censorship

Indian Kanoon defends the right to provide access to court records

In response to a petition filed before the Kerala HC, Indian Kanoon has clarified that a right to be forgotten cannot be judicially created without a statutory basis and explained that court records are public documents whose reproduction cannot be prohibited by citing the right to privacy.
05 January, 2021
3 min read
Devdutta MukhopadhyayDevdutta Mukhopadhyay
Censorship

After Section 118A repeal important steps remain for the Government of Kerala

Read our proposals to the Government of Kerala to help avoid any overbroad or unnecessary criminalisation of online speech while also making sure abuse, threats or any of the harms that emerge on social media can be checked.
02 December, 2020
4 min read
Anushka JainAnushka Jain
66A

Kerala's Proposed Amendment to curb online abuse is eerie in its similarity to the unconstitutional S.66A

Read IFF's representation to the Government of Kerala highlighting the similarities between their proposed amendment to the Kerala Police Act and the unconstitutional S.66A of the IT Act, 2000.
26 October, 2020
4 min read
Anushka JainAnushka Jain
criminal law

We write to the Criminal Law Reform Committee which could make it even easier for TV anchors to read your texts #SaveOurPrivacy

Our submission reiterates demands to disband the Committee and we have also provided substantive inputs on various issues at the intersection of criminal law and digital rights.
29 September, 2020
6 min read
Devdutta MukhopadhyayDevdutta Mukhopadhyay
Parliament

Don't swipe next! We write to the Parliamentary Standing Committee for sustained hearings and an international human rights audit of Facebook India

There has been an alarming press report published in the Wall Street Journal on August 14, 2020 titled, “Facebook’s Hate-Speech Rules Collide with Indian Politics”. It merits urgent intervention and investigation into human rights breaches by Facebook India.
17 August, 2020
4 min read
Apar GuptaApar Gupta
Censorship

NIFT's Social Media Policy, 2020 violates the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression

We wrote to the Director General of NIFT as well as the Ministry of Textiles asking them to recall the policy which hampers the right to freedom of speech and expression of the students.
14 August, 2020
2 min read
Anushka JainAnushka Jain
freespeech

Major changes to Indian criminal law are underway! How can we use this process to defend and advance digital rights? #RightToMeme

The Ministry of Home Affairs has established a Committee to recommend changes to Indian criminal law within six months. We must ensure the Committee's recommendations do not lead to arbitrary prosecution of internet users or have a chilling effect on online speech.
07 August, 2020
7 min read
Devdutta MukhopadhyayDevdutta Mukhopadhyay

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