Wayforward Machine • Visit the future of the internet

Hands up if you remember how websites looked in the 90s 🙋‍♀️ Ever wonder what the internet will be like 25 years from now? Internet Archive has built a time machine to show you! Check out the WayForward Machine.

After Facebook Exposé: Does India need to update its IT Act?

In light of the recent facebook disclosures, we wrote to MEITY about any forthcoming updates to the Information Technology Act, 2000. We pointed out several inadequacies and lacunae in the Act, and asked the Ministry to publish a full consultation...

Illegal CCTV deployment in Delhi is alarming #SaveOurPrivacy

We wrote to the Lt. Governor of Delhi with our concerns regarding the ongoing illegal CCTV deployment in the National Capital and possible recommendations to protect the privacy of citizens.

MoUs for algorithms and data for profit: 4 new MoUs signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and private corporations, including Jio and Cisco.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has recently signed 4 more Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreements regarding the Agristack with Cisco, Ninjakart, ITC Limited, and Jio. In this post, we analyse these MoUs, and explain the...

IFF writes to Google India regarding copyright strikes.

We write to Google India highlighting that action taken upon copyright complaints is based on an incorrect application of copyright law and YouTube’s policies and, therefore, threatens press freedom and is in violation of the constitutional rights...

Don’t penalise cybersecurity researchers!

We wrote to CERT-IN regarding their new Responsible Vulnerability Disclosure and Coordination Policy that penalises cybersecurity researchers for vulnerability disclosures. Such a policy would make researchers reluctant about reporting...

IFF submits its comments on the Draft Aadhaar (Pricing of Aadhaar Authentication Services) Regulations

We have provided our comments on the Draft Aadhaar (Pricing of Aadhaar Authentication Services) Regulations 2021. In our comments, we recommended that Aadhaar authentication charges be scrapped and private entities be barred from acting as...

Read our Joint Letter with C-Help & FMES to NHA on CoWIN’s updated API

We wrote to the National Health Authority with C-Help & FMES on their updated API which would allow government and private entities to know the vaccination status of individuals.

Digital Transparency: A Right to Information Report for September, 2021

In September, IFF filed IFF has filed 26 RTI requests and 3 First Appeals with various public authorities to uncover vital information on issues of public interest.

#PrivacyOfThePeople: Gig and app-based workers

In the latest post in our #PrivacyOfThePeople series, we look at the impact of the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 on gig workers. We examine the minimal data rights provided to these workers by work agreements, how the PDPB would affect these...

Digital Patrakar Defence Clinic is back again for October!

IFF in collaboration with FMP launched DPDC in September to provide pro bono legal assistance to journalists. DPDC will continue to provide pro bono legal assistance throughout the year. In this post we highlight who can apply for the Clinic, and...

Vaccination is essential; Vaccine passports are not!

In this explainer on vaccine passports, we try to examine the ethical, legal and privacy concerns surrounding them.

The internet cannot be suspended in entire districts to prevent cheating in exams - IFF writes to the Rajasthan Government.

IFF writes to the officers of the Rajasthan Government expressing concerns about the unlawful, unnecessary, disproportionate and improperly ordered internet shutdowns on September 26, 2021, purportedly ordered to prevent cheating in the Rajasthan...

Social media giants have released the second round of 'Compliance Reports'. We’ve analysed the data.

We analyse the transparency reports submitted by Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Twitter in compliance with Rule 4(1)(d) of the Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

TRAI’s final roadmap for connectivity and broadband access is a mixed bag #AccessToInternet

After multiple rounds of consultation, the TRAI released its final recommendations on the Roadmap to promote broadband connectivity and enhanced broadband speed. Some of the recommendations we had made during the consultations were reflected in...

The case of the missing consultation response: Missing submissions to the Agristack consultations

Responses to our RTIs indicate that submissions from some organisations on the Agristack consultation paper were not received. Together with the AIKS, we wrote to the Agristack Working Group and the DACFW, re-submitting our suggestions and asking...

Pegasus Scandal: it's been two months with no investigation! #SaveOurPrivacy

Read our submission to the West Bengal Commission of Inquiry on the Pegasus issue in which we highlight the need to question the relevant government stakeholders.

CCTVs in Delhi: Cause for concern or celebration? #SaveOurPrivacy

We wrote to the Government of Delhi to highlight our concerns and highlight the need for a legal review & audit of their CCTV project.

Digital Transparency: A Right to Information Report for August, 2021

In the month of August, IFF has filed 64 RTI requests, 5 First Appeals and 1 Second Appeal. In this report, we give you an overview of the requests filed and an analysis of the responses we have received from the different public authorities.