The idea of an open internet can bring together not just worried netizens but politicians of all hues. On a day when the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India got more than 2 lakh emails by Monday afternoon from Indian netizens annoyed by possible efforts to make internet an unequal space, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and…
“Freedom-of-speech activists and experts have voiced concerns over the launch of ‘Airtel Zero’, a data plan which they say can stifle innovation and promote certain applications and websites over smaller companies. The move could spell doom for the “neutrality” of the internet as we know it. Airtel Zero allows subscribers to access certain applications free…
The Federal Communications Commission recently adopted strong net neutrality rules that should prevent cable and phone companies from creating fast and slow lanes on the Internet. But policy makers in other parts of the world, particularly in Europe and India, are considering very different kinds of rules that could hurt consumers and start-up Internet businesses.…
After Unfreedom was banned from releasing in India, its director Raj Amit Kumar has released a video appealing to everyone to sign a petition addressed to the prime minister, to protect the freedom of expression of all Indian citizens. The video, which was uploaded on Youtube on April 9, questions the functioning of Central Board…
As the campaign and support for net neutrality is picking up, Politicians, celebrities and a cross section of people are voicing their support for it. Net neutrality means all data and sites are treated and charged equally be it mobile app or any other app. According to AIB whose video on net neutrality has gone…
When the Supreme Court of India struck down the draconian Section 66 A of the IT Act in its entirety, for once we felt that we have won the right to enjoy free speech on the Internet. But did we? The ongoing net neutrality debate tells us otherwise—and has added more to the doubts that…
The valedictory flag marches around the Supreme Court’s striking down Section 66A of the Information Technology Act greatly exaggerates the immediate benefit that will flow to those with a passion for free speech. While it will surely keep kids who disapprove of traffic stopping political funerals out of jail, it won’t necessarily allow us to…
Most software code has dependencies. Simple and reproducible methods exist for mapping and understanding the impact of these dependencies. Legal code also has dependencies –across court orders and within a single court order. And since court orders are not produced using a structured mark-up language, experts are required to understand the precedential value of a…
Liberty of thought and expression is a cardinal value that is of paramount significance under India’s constitutional scheme. The preamble of the Constitution of India inter alia speaks of liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. Article 19(1)(a) of part 3 on Fundamental Rights of the constitution provides right to freedom of speech and…
This statement was originally published on pen-international.org on 27 March 2015. By Evan Rankin and Amy Tang The Supreme Court of India’s landmark decision on Tuesday [24 March 2015] signals a move towards greater protection of free expression in the world’s largest democracy. But there is still much to do. India’s highest court struck down…