Big thanks to the best @captnemo.in for hosting a match donation for us on his birthday! With your help, we raised around Rs. 3.06 lakhs yesterday! We appreciate your consistent love & support for IFF & its commitment to stand up for digital liberties in India. Thanks, Nemo 💞💞

Can't make it to the call?

Bookmark the Youtube Livestream link to catch the briefing call later at your own pace!

youtube.com/live/FTUlT-X...

With the release of the Broadcasting Bill, 2023, now the draft Telecom Bill, 2023 and the rumoured upcoming DPDPA Rules, the fight for our digital rights is at a critical juncture. 5/5

We need YOUR support now more than ever.
internetfreedom.in/donate

While we wait for the fresh draft to be released in the public domain, check out our public brief on the draft Telecom Bill, 2022.  4/5

content.internetfreedom.in/api/files/di...

The draft Indian Telecom Bill, 2022 received backlash from several sets of stakeholders during the public consultation last year. Although the Ministry reportedly conducted several inter-ministerial discussions on several issues, glaring privacy concerns remain. 3/5 www.livemint.com/industry/tel...

Such last minute introductions & changes create hindrances in a meaningful, healthy, & detailed interaction between parliamentarians. This defeats the purpose of a list of business, which is set well in advance. We oppose the dilution of core parliamentary ethics & democratic values. 2/5

📣If you don’t want the government to censor the content we consume, write to @MIB_India using our template response, asking it to - Kill the bill & #LetUsChill. 9/9

letuschill.in

➡️So you can’t handle the truth, huh? Risks around censorship of satire, irony, dissent, and hard-hitting truth may become reality. We urge MIB to withdraw the Broadcasting Bill & steer away from dictating modifications & deletions. 8/9

➡️I think we’ve seen this film before… and we didn’t like the ending. The Union govt's powers on future rulemaking create a skewed power dynamic. We urge MIB to refrain from overbroad provisions that may lead to unbridled censorship. 7/9

➡️The Broadcasting Bill imposes strict rules on “OTT” platforms, leading to disproportionate content censorship, more financial burdens, less user choice, & potentially stifling innovation. 6/9

➡️As if “OTT” content regulation was not enough, the Bill also extends regulatory control to any person broadcasting news through a digital medium. This threatens democratic principles of online free speech, impacting both media companies & individuals. 5/9

➡️The Bill is laden with ambiguous definitions, vague terms, & excessive rule-making powers. There may be misuse through subjective & selective application of the provisions.  We urge MIB to address the uncertainties. 4/9

We urge MIB to withdraw this draconian bill. Why?👇
➡️The consultation, which is currently only in English, lacks inclusivity. We push for multilingual publication of the bill for a meaningful consultation process that is more accessible. 3/9

The Broadcasting Bill was published on Nov 10, 2023, & public comments were initially invited till Dec 9.

However, following representations from various stakeholders, MIB has extended this deadline to January 15, 2024. 2/9

mib.gov.in/sites/defaul...

For a quick reading list!

1. internetfreedom.in/broadcast-se...

2. www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead...

3. indianexpress.com/article/opin...

4. theprint.in/opinion/indi...

The recent disclosures by MPs raises alarm & highlights the urgent need for surveillance reform. We urge the Indian Govt to reject the use of surveillance tech. There needs to be an impartial investigation to determine the source & extent of the potential attack. 6/6

The Committee report, shared with the SC in a sealed envelope, is yet to be available publicly. In light of these rising instances of such unethical & unlawful surveillance, the report must be made public, in the interest of transparency. 5/n 

internetfreedom.in/pegasus-inve...

In 2021, the alleged use of the Pegasus spyware by the Union government to surveil over 300 verified Indians, including ministers, opposition leaders, & journalists, was investigated by the committee of experts constituted by the Supreme Court (SC). 4/n

internetfreedom.in/iffs-stateme...

Apple has reportedly stated that it does not attribute the threat notifications to any specific state-sponsored attacker & shared its inability to provide reasoning behind sending threat notifications, citing potential risk of such attackers evading detection in the future. 3/n
x.com/timesofindia...