Switch off for net neutrality

It is the hottest debate this season. News shows and parliament debates apart, it’s the one topic that is dominating most office water cooler and coffee table conversations. With the whole country up in arms for net neutrality, several online events are being created to send a petition to TRAI to showcase their stand against…

TRAI gets over 10 lakh petitions on Net Neutrality

Flooding telecom regulator TRAI with their petitions, proponents of Net Neutrality have submitted greater than 10 lakh petitions to ‘hold web free’ — a day earlier than the deadline ends for submission of feedback on a session paper on this regard. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has sought public feedback until April 24…

Net neutrality violation takes away right to free speech: Nasscom

The National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) called for regulators to maintain net neutrality, saying that any discrimination in the treatment of data online amounted to violation of the fundamental right of free speech. Summarising it’s response to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (Trai) consultation paper on net neutrality and the regulation of…

Greenpeace India gets civil society support

Condemning the government’s recent crackdown on Greenpeace India, civil society activists on Tuesday sent a protest letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, saying that in a country that has a history of standing up for social justice, ecological sustainability and the rights of the poor, such an act was “shameful”. The letter, endorsed by 182…

Section 66A judgment: A Pyrrhic victory?

The Supreme Court in its recent judgment struck down the controversial Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, bringing relief to millions using the virtual space on a daily basis. While the judges condemned Section 66A as a fetter to free speech, the judgment leaves a vacuum in the IT Act, leaving punishable offences…

SC draws freedom line at Gandhi

Poets and authors cannot use abusive words against people in the name of artistic freedom – more so when the personality in question is Mahatma Gandhi – as every freedom is subject to statutory and constitutional restrictions, the Supreme Court has said. A two-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra made the observation while hearing…

Facebook disables Taslima Nasreen’s account, writers question move

Controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen’s Facebook account was disabled after her posts were reported by Islamic fundamentalists, the author said on Wednesday. Dubbing the move as “totally unacceptable”, eminent writers raised doubts over Facebook’s “open” nature and called for safeguards to be put in place. “Since Tuesday my Facebook account has been disabled. Despite several…