Catergory

OTT

Telecom

First Read: The Telecom Bill, 2023 is on Santa's evil list

The Telecom Bill, 2023, much like the 2022 one, continues to hang on to the colonial provisions of its 1885 predecessor it purportedly aims to overhaul. It misses a huge opportunity to reform the telecom sector and create a rights-centric law that protects user rights instead of infringing on it.
20 December, 2023
11 min read
Tejasi PanjiarTejasi Panjiar & Prateek WaghrePrateek Waghre
OTT

Shooting down bad ideas: Our response to TRAI’s consultation paper on OTT Regulation and Selective Banning

TRAI released a consultation paper on OTT regulation and selective banning. In our response, we expressed our view against the licensing and registration as well as selective banning of OTT communication services. See the post to read our detailed comments.
30 August, 2023
5 min read
Tejasi PanjiarTejasi Panjiar & Prateek WaghrePrateek Waghre
Public Brief

An Unfair Argument i.e. “Fair Share”: Decoding Telcos' Demand for OTT Regulation, and Unravelling Implications on Net Neutrality, User Costs, and Fairness.

We analyse the increasing demands for regulation of OTT services by TSPs and also break down the TSP's rationale for demanding their "fair share" of the stolen profits from OTT services. Lastly, we explore policy implications of such paternalistic regulation of OTT services.
12 June, 2023
6 min read
Tejasi PanjiarTejasi Panjiar
it act
Featured

Union of India seeks a transfer of cases challenging IT Rules, 2021

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court has listed the Union of India's transfer petition before another bench on 16th July 2021. The petition seeks a transfer to the Supreme Court of 4 cases challenging IT Rules, 2021 which are pending before different High Courts.
09 July, 2021
4 min read
Krishnesh BapatKrishnesh Bapat & Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh
Censorship

Madras High Court issues notice in petition challenging the Intermediary Rules 2021 by T. M. Krishna

Madras High issued notice on a writ petition by T.M. Krishna challenging the Intermediary Rules 2021.
10 June, 2021
4 min read
Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh
ITRules

Tandav is a Case Study for OTT censorship under the IT Rules, 2021 #LetUsChill

Documents accessed through RTI paint a grim picture for creativity and diversity of content for online streaming platforms in India.
27 March, 2021
6 min read
Apar GuptaApar Gupta & Anushka JainAnushka Jain
OTT

Coming to streaming services near you: Self-censorship!

In light of the recently notified Intermediary Rules, we have made an explainer on the IAMAI's toolkit for the self-regulation code for OCC providers. Here, we describe the grievance redressal structure, analyse some of the concerns at hand, and explain how the toolkit will enmesh with the Rules.
04 March, 2021
10 min read
Rohin GargRohin Garg
Censorship

#LetUsChill: Confusion and Opacity over OTT guidelines

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting may be considering regulating online content on Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. We wrote a letter to the Ministry, in which we detailed potential harms, asked for clarity, and requested a thorough implementation of the pre-legislative consultation policy.
04 February, 2021
3 min read
Rohin GargRohin Garg
OTT

IFF intervenes in Madras HC PIL seeking censorship on online streaming platforms #LetUsChill

In the impleadment application, we have cautioned against judicial intervention at this stage because OTT regulation is a complex and technical issue best addressed through legislative and policy making processes involving extensive stakeholder consultation.
15 December, 2020
4 min read
Devdutta MukhopadhyayDevdutta Mukhopadhyay
savetheinternet

Thank you TRAI for recommending against internet licensing! #SaveTheInternet

In a victory for internet users the telecom regulator pushed back against some awful proposals by telecom companies to force online service providers for licensing, revenue sharing or breaking their encryption. We have written to the DOT to accept them.
28 September, 2020
5 min read
Apar GuptaApar Gupta

Donate to IFF

Help IFF scale up by making a donation for digital rights. Really, when it comes to free speech online, digital privacy, net neutrality and innovation — we got your back!