Internet Freedom Foundation

Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) is an Indian non-governmental organisation that conducts advocacy on digital rights and liberties, based in New Delhi. IFF files petitions and undertakes advocacy campaigns to defend online freedom, privacy, net neutrality, and innovation.

Internet Freedom Foundation
Founded2016 (2016)
FoundersApar Gupta, Aravind Ravi Sulekha, Karthik Balakrishnan, Rachita Taneja, Raman Jit Singh Chima, Rohin Dharmakumar, Kiran Jonnalagadda, Nikhil Pahwa
TypeCharitable organization
PurposeDigital rights and Internet activism
Location
Area served
India
Chairperson
Raman Jit Singh Chima
Apar Gupta
Websiteinternetfreedom.in

Background

The Internet Freedom Foundation was formed out of the SaveTheInternet.in campaign which was a volunteer-driven campaign. The campaign in support of net neutrality garnered over 1.2 million signatures and led the TRAI to prohibit discriminatory practices by companies on the internet.[1] To enable structured engagement, the volunteers of the SaveTheInternet.in campaign established IFF to work on issues of privacy, free speech, net neutrality, and innovation on the internet.

Activities

IFF undertakes advocacy campaigns against blocking of websites,[2] technology related interference in elections,[3] free speech violations,[4] internet censorship,[5][6] and defends encryption.[7]

Campaigns and Legislative Work

In March 2017, IFF drafted a law to reform India's defamation law which was introduced in Lok Sabha as a Private Member's Bill by Tathagata Satpathy.[8] The bill garnered more than 2000 signatures and 54 organisational supporters, including India's largest publishing houses.

In April 2017, IFF launched a campaign against internet shutdowns in India called KeepUsOnline. They petitioned the Prime Minister and the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology to introduce credible measures to stop arbitrary internet shutdowns in India.[9]

In June 2018, IFF launched the SaveOurPrivacy campaign which drafted a law on data protection which safeguards the right to privacy. The code has seven core principles, one of which calls for surveillance reform. It advocates for a law that limits mass or 'dragnet' surveillance, and lays down clear rules governing individual surveillance.[10] It also seeks the strengthening and protection of the right to information. The bill got endorsements from more than 11,000 individuals and 34 organisations.

Litigation

IFF has petitioned or intervened in cases relating to Whatsapp Privacy,[11] the Right to be Forgotten,[12] CCTV surveillance,[13] PUBG bans,[14] Section 66A arrests,[15] Aadhaar Social-Media Linking.[16]

Publications

IFF publishes open working papers from fellows. The first research paper by Nakul Nayak studied the law and impact of internet shutdowns in India,[17] and the second research paper by Apar Gupta and Abhinav Sekhri called attention to the continued use of Section 66A of the IT Act, despite the Supreme Court striking it down.[18]

Support

IFF is a donor-driven organisation with recurring monthly payment subscriptions for members.[19] It is also organisationally supported by Indian startups such as Zerodha and Sharechat.[20] It also publishes monthly transparency reports.[21]

See also

References
  1. "India's Net neutrality crusaders". livemint.com. Mint. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  2. "Not just porn, Indian telecom firms are blocking other websites, too". qz.com. Quartz India. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  3. "Internet Freedom Foundation, Constitutional Conduct, ex CECs among others appeal to EC to reign in digital platforms". economictimes.indiatimes.com. The Economic Times. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  4. "India is Cracking Down on Ecommerce and Free Speech". wired.com. Wired. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  5. "India Proposes Chinese-Style Internet Censorship". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  6. "Netflix will regulate its content in India. It swears that's not a bad thing". edition.cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  7. "WhatsApp is at risk in India. So are free speech and encryption". vox.com. Vox. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  8. "Now, debate on defamation law goes online". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. The Times of India. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  9. "'Keep Us Online,' says a new campaign by the Internet Freedom Foundation against internet shutdowns in India". factordaily.com. Factor Daily. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  10. "Citizens' group unveils draft law on data protection that safeguards the right to privacy". scroll.in. Scroll.in. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  11. "WhatsApp privacy policy affects users' rights? Supreme Court to examine". economictimes.indiatimes.com. The Economic Times. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  12. "Delhi HC accepts intervention against a Right to be Forgotten case in India". medianama.com. MediaNama. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  13. "'CCTV project a voyeur's dream, will lead to surveillance state': Delhi govt gets legal notice". theprint.in. The Print. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  14. "PUBG Mobile: IFF moves Gujarat High Court against the ban". hindustantimes.com. Hindustan Times. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  15. "Police using lapsed law to curb e-speech: Internet Freedom Foundation". economictimes.indiatimes.com. The Economic Times. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  16. "Madras HC: Internet Freedom Foundation to act as an intervener in WhatsApp traceability case". medianama.com. MediaNama. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  17. Nayak, Nakul (September 25, 2018). "The Legal Disconnect: An Analysis of India's Internet Shutdown Laws". SSRN 3254857. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. Sekhri, Abhinav; Gupta, Apar (October 31, 2018). "Section 66A and Other Legal Zombies". SSRN 3275893. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. "Donate". internetfreedom.in. Internet Freedom Foundation. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  20. "Organisational Donors and Supporters". internetfreedom.in. Internet Freedom Foundation. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  21. "Transparency and Finances". internetfreedom.in. Internet Freedom Foundation. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
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