Catergory

WhatTheBlock

Delhi HC directs the Union of India to consider unblocking of Tanul Thakur’s satirical website if a disclaimer is put in place

Tanul Thakur's satirical website, was banned by MeitY without providing him a hearing or a copy of the ban order. the Delhi HC directed the Union of India to consider unblocking the website if a suitable disclaimer is put in place within 6 weeks.

21 July, 2023

3 min read

Gayatri Malhotra

WhatTheBlock

Mayday Alert: 14 mobile apps banned, no blocking order released. #WhatTheBlock

In May 2023, 14 mobile apps that provided end-to-end encrypted and peer-to-peer messaging services were reportedly banned. Reasoned blocking orders and a pre-decisional hearing were reportedly not provided to these apps. IFF filed a series of RTI applications to seek more information.

10 May, 2023

7 min read

MeitY’s merry go round: Statement on blocking and unblocking(?) of apps by MeitY

MeitY has reportedly issued orders to block over 230 applications/ platforms, after receiving instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs. MeitY hasn't yet furnished an official reasoning and justification for it. Read our full statement here.

10 February, 2023

6 min read

Tejasi Panjiar &

Prateek Waghre

Delhi High Court issues notice in the blocking case of satirical website

Mr. Thakur's satirical website, dowry calculator, was banned by MeitY in 2018 without providing an order copy. However, on January 23, 2023 the Delhi High Court was pleased to issue notice.

Delhi HC orders MeitY to give copy of ban order and hearing to Mr Tanul Thakur for banning his website #WhatTheBlock

Tanul Thakur's satirical website dowrycalculator.com was blocked without giving him a copy of the blocking order or an opportunity to be heard. On 11th May 2022, the Delhi High Court Court directed MeitY to provide Tanul Thakur a copy of the blocking order and give him a post-decisional hearing.

16 May, 2022

4 min read

Amala Dasarathi

Delhi HC

Delhi High Court calls for case files and asks MeitY to consider hearing creator of satirical Dowry Calculator on website blocking #WhatTheBlock

Mr Tanul Thakur is the creator of the satirical website dowrycalculator.com. In 2018, the Union Government blocked the website without granting him a hearing or providing a copy of the order. Mr Thakur has challenged the blocking order.

29 March, 2022

5 min read

Amala Dasarathi &

Tanmay Singh

freespeech

Featured

What to do if your social media account is blocked?

Refer to this explainer to understand what to do if your account is blocked on social media channels like Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

30 July, 2021

6 min read

Yashaswini

WhatTheBlock

Without prejudice: The least the government can do is proactively publish judicial orders for website blocking #WhatTheBlock

We wrote to Ministry of Electronics & IT asking them to, at the least, consider proactive publication of judicial orders and maintaining a public list of websites/URLs blocked under it.

21 April, 2021

5 min read

Anushka Jain

WhatTheBlock

Avoiding app bans with a nuanced policy approach #WhatTheBlock

The Government is looking to strengthen its stance on banning mobile apps. It is planning to come out with guidelines, flouting which any app can be banned. We feel that such wide scale banning operations undermine your digital rights. So, we wrote to them urging them to rethink the move.

04 August, 2020

4 min read

Raghav Kaushal

WhatTheBlock

Fridays For Future India resists illegal website blocking #WhatTheBlock

Fridays for Future has written to the Delhi Police objecting to the blocking of its website for encouraging public participation in the consultation process for Draft EIA Notification 2020.

23 July, 2020

4 min read

Devdutta Mukhopadhyay

Catergory

WhatTheBlock

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