Alarming news! A recent report states that the DOT has cited "fiscal constraints" in establishing a Multi Stakeholder Body (MSB) that would ensure India's hard won net neutrality protections for all. #SaveTheInternet

Here's why you should care 👇🏽 1/n
internetfreedom.in/is-the-dot-doi…
In Sept '20, the @TRAI had forwarded key strategies around enforcing net neutrality principles to the @DoT_India. Now, the DoT has apparently stated financial constraints around COVID-19 as an excuse to not follow up on them!

We filed an RTI with the DoT to confirm this. 2/n
We asked them:

a. What actions were initiated by the DoT with regards to TRAI recommendations (Sept '20)

b. If an MSB was constituted to support net neutrality

c. Impact of budget constraints on the potential to act on recommendations.

We are yet to receive an answer. 3/n
A Multi-Stakeholder Body is important so that we avert the possibility of industry capture + discriminatory practices, enforce technical & operational standards for monitoring and enforcing net neutrality, and raise institutional capacity to reduce net neutrality violations. 4/n
IFF has recorded as many as 62 violations since 2021 began. Website blocklists are widely inconsistent, which suggests a) non-compliance with blocking orders or b) arbitrary blocking w/o legal orders. This raises alarm bells for #netneutrality transparency & accountability! 5/n
The DoT, on the other hand, has dismissed #netneutrality as ‘avoidable expenditure’.

BUT: its expenditure on regulatory bodies is negligible: 0.27% of the total DoT budget in 2019, 0.56% in 2020, & 0.39% in 2021.

Surely #netneutrality gains are worth this small expenditure. 6/n
Our recommendations for the DoT:

1. Operationalise the TRAI #netneutrality enforcement mechanisms at the earliest & make the multi-stakeholder body a priority.

2. Approach any major policy rethink on net neutrality with transparency + public participation! #SaveTheInternet 7/n
We urge the @DoT_India to urgently respond to our RTI & provide relevant documents. They must take this fight to its logical conclusion and assist in public advocacy, especially since their annual report states that one of the 'Secure India' goals is to ensure #netneturality. 8/n Screenshot of 'Secure India' goals
Many thanks to our community who have been tagging us to draw our attention to the various arbitrary website blocks that are ongoing! #SaveTheInternet

Do you care about #netneutrality or want to report a violation? Tell us at the IFF Forum 👇🏽

forum.internetfreedom.in

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More from @internetfreedom

16 Sep
Are you aware of your 'personal threat model'? #CyberSecCharcha

Oftentimes when people’s data is breached, it’s probably because they haven’t implemented the basic digital hygiene that goes a long way in protecting your data.

Follow this thread 👇🏽 1/n

internetfreedom.in/5-cybersec-cha…
There are some simple steps you can (and should!) take to up your #DigitalSecurity game. We might sound like a broken record, but:

🕸 Set up 2 Factor Authentication
🕸 Create strong passwords
🕸 Use a password manager
🕸 Stay alert for phishing scams!

More details in 🧵 👇🏽 2/n
First, on passwords:

✅ Use unique passwords for each account
❌ Don’t use: DOB, partner/parent’s names or any info easily available in the public domain.
✅ Aim for at least 15 characters & a mix of letters, numbers + symbols.
✅ Use passphrases: they are harder to crack. 3/n White background. Comic in ...
Read 9 tweets
16 Sep
Hearing Update: The petitions challenging the constitutionality of the #IntermediaryRules are listed for final hearing as item no. 44 before the bench led by the Chief Justice at the Madras High Court today. 1/n screenshot of court cases
IFF has provided legal assistance to carnatic musician, author and activist @tmkrishna in his petition challenging the entirety of the Rules. 2/n

internetfreedom.in/madras-high-co…
The issues raised in these petitions are extremely important. We have sought that the entirety of the Intermediary Rules, 2021 be struck down because it violates the freedom of speech, freedom to practice any profession, and the right to privacy of individuals. 3/n
Read 4 tweets
15 Sep
❗️ Do you know what's happening with the #AgriStack project ⁉️

IFF found out that comments by key stakeholders (such as @KIsanSabha) were not recorded in the consultation process! #StandWithFarmers

Follow this thread for quick updates 👇🏽 1/n

internetfreedom.in/the-case-of-th…
The #Agristack is a collection of technology based interventions in the farming and agriculture sector that hold the potential to result in dramatic changes. Get an introduction to the project & its potential benefits and drawbacks 👇🏽 2/n

internetfreedom.in/the-agristack-…
Quick notes:

The #Agristack project will include farmers':
- Personal details
- Land profile
- Production & financial details

Its issues mainly revolve around its algorithmic nature that can spike loan rates & reduce agency of farmers. The risk of exclusion is also present. 3/n
Read 8 tweets
8 Sep
Essential government benefits cannot be made conditional on vaccination status!

'No vaccination, no pension,' a #Karnataka Deputy Commissioner had said — and we followed up on its legal basis.

Could there be one? Follow this thread 👇🏽 1/n
internetfreedom.in/vaccines-shoul…
It was reported that for BPL & anthyodaya cardholders, vaccination was compulsory to receive benefits. In the face of outrage, the #Karnataka DC clarified that no such order was passed. While this immediate threat has diminished, we've seen multiple such statements recently. 2/n
In the present context of the COVID-19 pandemic, to deny people essential rations (or other government benefits) for being unvaccinated would only exacerbate the existing food and nutrition crisis.

IMPORTANT: Are such steps even legal? We broke it down for you. 🧵 3/n Similar statements have been given in recent times:  5 April
Read 7 tweets
7 Sep
Pegasus Update: Today, the Supreme Court will hear the petitions on #PegasusProject disclosures today. IFF has provided legal assistance to Jharkhand based activists @RupeshKSingh85 and @IpsaShatakshi, as well as support to other journalists and civil society members. 1/n Rupesh Kumar Singh court update
The issues raised in these petitions are extremely important. The petitioners have asked the court to declare that the use of the #Pegasus spyware is unconstitutional, and direct the Union Government to protect Indian citizens from this #spyware. 2/n
On the last date of hearing, the SC issued a pre-admission notice to the Central Government in these petitions. Prior to that, the Union Government had filed an affidavit that did not confirm or deny its use of Pegasus. 3/n

internetfreedom.in/meity-filed-a-…
Read 5 tweets
6 Sep
Short statement : The justification of the State of Haryana to impose an internet shutdown in Karnal on September 7 is incompatible with the Anuradha Bhasin Guidelines. The basis of an internet shutdown cannot be a vague apprehension of loss of life and property. 1/n
The order apprehends “disruption of public utilities and safety” and links it to the ability of the internet to “spread misinformation and rumours”. However, all these statements lack any factual basis such as specific inputs or past incidents. 2/n
Supreme Court has also at times held that the right to assembly and protest are democratic forms of dissent that must not be restrained. Hence there is a state duty to protect a protest and ensure its safety. Shutting down internet services does not advance state objectives. 3/n
Read 5 tweets

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