Thread by @internetfreedom

What's up with the #ITrules? Here's what ➡️ The UoI has asked the SC to transfer before itself 4 cases (pending in High Courts) questioning the constitutional validity of the rules. IFF is providing legal assistance to @LiveLawIndia in one of them.
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internetfreedom.in/union-of-india…

Today, submissions were made by the Ld. Solicitor General for a stay of the pending matters before High Courts. The Supreme Court refused such stay, and ordered the petitions to be tagged and listed before the appropriate bench on July 16.
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The Kerala HC had earlier restrained UoI from taking coercive action against @LiveLawIndia, a respondent in today’s hearing. In an integral decision for the power of collaborative and strategic litigation, the Supreme Court didn’t disturb this order.
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So, what's the problem with the Rules?
▶️ increasing govt. control over social media platforms & content.
▶️ regulating online content + digital news media

tl;dr: #ITRules are unconstitutional & fundamentally change an Indian user's online experience.
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internetfreedom.in/intermediaries…

After the government notified the #ITRules, at least 15 petitioners have challenged the constitutionality of these rules before High Courts across the country.

IFF is providing legal assistance in ongoing petitions filed by @LiveLawIndia and @tmkrishna against these rules.
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The present transfer petition sought a transfer of four amongst at least 15 petitions challenging the validity of #ITRules to the Supreme Court, asking to club these petitions with a case initiated long before the IT Rules, on grounds that they raise similar issues.
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We are also deeply grateful to the lawyers who worked on this case (Mr. Arvind Datar, Mr. Santosh Mathew, Ms. Liz Mathew AoR, @VrindaBhandari, @abhinavsekhri10, @SrikumarSanjana, @TanmayPratapS, @krishnesh78) — especially Sr. Advocate Arvind Datar, who led the legal team.
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IFF will keep you similarly informed on the next date of hearing, and will also share today’s order once available.

We will continue to oppose the unconstitutional & undemocratic #ITRules before appropriate forums and provide the strongest possible legal challenge to them! 8/n

Support us in the fight for your rights! Fund IFF by becoming a member today - amplify, share, and contribute, as strategic litigation and long-term change requires YOUR sustained support! ✊

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