IFF submits its comments on the Draft Health Data Retention Policy

IFF has provided our comments on the Consultation Paper on Proposed Health Data Retention Policy. In our comments, we have tried to highlight the harms of mandatory data retention, issues around a fragmented healthcare regime and data portability...

Digital Transparency: A Right to Information Report for December 2021

Since our last report for the month of November, IFF has filed 21 RTI requests and 5 first appeals. In this post, we give you an overview of the requests filed and an analysis of the responses we have received from the different public authorities.

Telangana HC issues notice in challenge to FRT

Telangana High Court has issued notice in a petition by Mr. S.Q. Masood challenging the deployment of Facial Recognition Technology in Telangana. IFF provided legal support.

2021: New beginnings in digital security

2021 was an important year for us because we did a lot of new things. Over this short year end catch up on digital security, we’ll walk you through what we did, our achievements and disappointments, and more importantly what we learned and our...

2021: Bringing public policy closer to the public

Throughout 2021, we have tried to respond to the various policy initiatives and projects launched by the Central and State governments with meaningful and privacy-respecting policy analysis. We have also utilized the Right to Information Act, 2005...

Digital Transparency Year in Review 2021

Throughout 2021, we have tried to raise awareness around the various policies and projects that the Central and State government have developed and introduced.

2021: A year of standing for your digital rights in courts

As a digital liberties organisation, IFF’s mission statement is to ensure that Indian citizens can use the internet with liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. To that end, we engage in strategic litigation to defend the rights of the litigants...

Winter Session 2021: A Digital Rights Review

The Winter session saw frequent disruptions. However, with the JPC reports being tabled, the Parliament proved to be crucial for digital rights.

We take action against Hack-for-Hire firm Belltrox #SaveOurPrivacy

Based on recent disclosures from Meta-Facebook, we have filed a criminal compliant against Delhi-based hack-for-hire firm Belltrox.

Dissent is democratic: Looking at the dissent notes in the report of the JPC #SaveOurPrivacy

In the final report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, 8 Members of Parliament have filed dissent notes against the final recommendations. In this post, we look at what the MPs are saying and explain...

IFF wrote to the MHA and the DOT seeking implementation of the recommendations made on internet shutdowns by the Standing Committee on Communication and Information Technology

tl;drThe Standing Committee on Communication and Information Technology (‘Standing Committee’) released its report on ‘Suspension of telecom services/internet and its impact (‘Report’) on December 1, 2021 highlighting several important...

Need for surveillance reform stronger than ever in light of the Draft Data Protection Bill, 2021

The Draft Data Protection Bill, 2021 is here but does it protect Indian citizens against over-broad government surveillance? The answer is a disappointing no.

Comparing Draft Data Protection Bill, 2021 with its predecessors

How have user rights fared through the multiple iterations of India's data protection law? In this post, we compare the latest version of the Bill to earlier versions to fund out.

Key Takeaways: The JPC Report and the Data Protection Bill, 2021 #SaveOurPrivacy

The report of the JPC on the PDPB was finally tabled in Parliament on December 16, 2021. Read on to learn about the 10 key takeaways from the report on issues such as user consent, user rights, the nature of the proposed Data Protection Authority,...

Over to you MeitY: IFF's representation on CERT-In's Responsible Vulnerability Disclosure and Coordination Policy

CERT-In responded to our representation on the Responsible Vulnerability Disclosure and Coordination Policy and clarified that the Policy is following the existing provisions of the law. Therefore, now we ask MeitY to amend the law to provide a...

Social media giants have released their Compliance Reports for the month of September. We’ve analysed them.

SSMI reports in compliance with Rule 4(1)(d) of the Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 have been analysed for the month of September.

Progress of Pegasus investigations around the world

Countries around the world were rocked by the Pegasus revelations. We take a look at the actions being taken in other jurisdictions in light of the shocking reports.

Digital Transparency: A Right to Information Report for November 2021

Since our last report for the month of September, IFF has filed 37 RTI requests and 1 first appeal. Here is an overview of the requests filed and an analysis of the responses we have received from the different public authorities.

Concerned with frequent internet suspensions, Parliamentary Committee recommends an overhaul.

The Standing Committee on IT has published its report on ‘Suspension of telecom services/internet and its impact’. The report has a range of recommendations including a review of the legal regime for suspension of internet services and...

DHC directs CIC to decide IFF’s appeals within 8 weeks

Delhi High Court directs CIC to decide IFF's appeals which seek statistical data regarding the surveillance orders under Section 69 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.