All Posts by:

Gayatri Malhotra

Gayatri Malhotra

IT Rules amendments, 2023

“Intermediaries can decide if they want to take down ‘fake’ information” - The Union Government concludes its submissions in petition challenging the IT Amendment Rules, 2023

During its submissions before the Bombay HC in a challenge to the IT Amendment Rules, 2023, the Union Govt clarified that this fact check unit will focus on patently false govt-related content, and that its role is only to flag, leaving the final call to intermediaries.
28 September, 2023
4 min read
Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh & Gayatri MalhotraGayatri Malhotra
aarogyasetu

Delhi High Court directs government to submit affidavit confirming lack of written records in Aarogya Setu’s development

Updates on Saurav Das’ writ petition before the Delhi High Court, where he is contesting the Central Information Commission’s decision to withhold information related to Aarogya Setu.
16 September, 2023
4 min read
Gayatri MalhotraGayatri Malhotra & Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh
FRT

Madras HC issues notice on petition challenging use of FRT in Tamil Nadu

Madras High Court has issued notice in a petition challenging the installation and deployment of Facial Recognition Technology (“FRT”) across the State.
21 August, 2023
6 min read
Gayatri MalhotraGayatri Malhotra
WebsiteBlocking

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 MalhotraGayatri Malhotra
transparency

Digital Transparency: A Right to Information Report for June, 2023

For the month of June 2023, IFF filed 46 RTIs. We received a total of 31 responses to previous RTI applications filed. We also filed 02 First Appeals and received responses on 01 previously-filed appeals of the same nature - from MeitY.
15 July, 2023
5 min read
Gayatri MalhotraGayatri Malhotra
internet shutdowns

Manipur Internet Shutdown: Developments before the Manipur High Court

Note: This post will be updated as and when new developments occur in the petitions before the Manipur HC
30 June, 2023
5 min read
Radhika RoyRadhika Roy & Gayatri MalhotraGayatri Malhotra
internet shutdowns

IFF wrote to Manipur State Authorities on the ongoing digital rights violations

June 22 marked 50 days of Manipur's ongoing state-wide internet shutdown. In wake of this shutdown, we have written to the Chief Secretary of Manipur, the Director General of Police, Manipur and other local authorities highlighting our concerns.
24 June, 2023
5 min read
Gayatri MalhotraGayatri Malhotra
IT Rules

In a petition filed by the Association of Indian Magazines’ challenging the fact check amendments to IT Rules, 2021, the Bombay High Court directs the Government to file its Reply

The Association of Indian Magazines (AIM) has filed a writ petition before the Bombay HC challenging the constitutional validity of this provision of the IT Rules Amendment, 2023 for being ultra vires the IT Act, 2000, and violating the right to freedom of speech and expression.
07 June, 2023
4 min read
Gayatri MalhotraGayatri Malhotra & Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh
RTI

TOP SECRET: MIB furnishes list of digital news media publishers and OTT platforms that submitted their details under IT Rules, 2021

In response to a CIC order in a Second Appeal filed by IFF, MIB furnished a list of 3,101 digital news media publishers and 57 OTT platforms that submitted their details to MIB.
17 May, 2023
5 min read
Gayatri MalhotraGayatri Malhotra
Anuradha Bhasin

Supreme Court of India issues notice in Foundation of Media Professional’s application seeking compliance with Anuradha Bhasin Internet Shutdown Guidelines. #KeepItOn

Tl;dr Despite detailed guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India, (2020) 3 SCC 637, State governments have continued to illegally impose internet shutdowns. Internet shutdowns are imposed without publishing internet suspension orders; under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (“CrPC”) and/or not constituting the Review Committee to review the legality of internet suspensions under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public
11 May, 2023
3 min read
Gayatri MalhotraGayatri Malhotra

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!