Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, has argued that section 66A of the IT (Amendment) Act, 2008 is needed to fight harrassment and abuse of women online. Is he correct? More
The Internet Democracy Project has joined forces with other civil society organisations participating in the ITU’s WCIT Conference in Dubai in requesting the ITU Secretary General and the Chairperson of the WCIT meeting to ensure that the continued barriers to civil society participation in the WCIT and the ITU are removed at the earliest. The text of the letter that was sent to the ITU Secretary General and the WCIT’s Chairperson today can be found below. Other civil society organisations and their members are encouraged to endorse this statement. Please email WCIT12civilsociety@gmail.com to add your support. An updated list of signatories can be found here. More
The Internet Democracy project is presently conducting a research project that looks at how women in India who are active users of social media and the Internet deal with speech addressed to them that makes them feel uncomfortable as women. Such speech could range from isolated comments that are simply … More
On 8 November 2012, the Internet Democracy Project organised a workshop at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) on Criminal law and the free and open Internet: Tensions and ways forward in democratic societies. What were the most important issues raised in the workshop? A report. More
I recently attended the first India Internet Governance Conference (IIGC) convened at the FICCI Federation House in New Delhi. Among the various issues that fall under the umbrella of Internet Governance, the most important to me, personally, is freedom of legitimate political expression over the Internet. Many people of my … More
Following the commotion that surrounded the Indian government’s recent orders to block Internet content and restrict the use of sms, FICCI organised in Delhi, on 4 September, a panel discussion on “Legitimate Restrictions on Free Speech Online”. The intention was to start a wider dialogue on how the Indian government can improve its responses to instances of hate speech. Secretary of the Department of Telecom, Mr. R. Chandrashekhar, who was among the panellists, seemed to take the opportunity most serious: he specifically asked the audience to focus their comments on suggestions for improvement they might have. Moreover, his excellent summary at the end of the event made amply clear that he had listened very closely indeed to the feedback that was provided. The Internet Democracy Project got a chance to contribute to the debate. More
The Internet Democracy Project has joined civil society organisations and academics from across the world in expressing concern over proposals currently in the ITU that will affect the Internet if accepted. Our joint letter expresses to member states and government delegates our concerns about the closed nature of the ITU process as well as about specific proposals that would threaten Internet openness and the exercise of human rights online. Civil society organisations and academics are welcome to join the list of signatories. If you would like to add your name, please write to signon@cdt.org. More
In preparation for the Stockholm Internet Forum, Anja Kovacs was asked to submit a written contribution, detailing what she believes is the biggest emerging threat to online freedom. Here is what she wrote. More
Member of Parliament Shri P. Rajeeve has called for the annulment of the IT Rules in Parliament. But what exactly is the problem with these rules? And how could they affect you? Watch the video to know more. Take action by writing to or calling your MP, by signing … More
At the Internet Democracy Project, we have been extremely pleased that Shri P Rajeeve, CPI(M) MP in the Rajya Sabha from Thrissur, Kerala, has filed a motion to call for the annulment of the Intermediary Guidelines Rules 2011 (or for short, the IT Rules). Since April 2011, when they were … More