Thread by @SFLCin

#Breaking

Big win for digital rights!
Supreme Court issued a notice to @GoI_MeitY today on account of a PIL filed by @SFLCin challenging the imposition of #InternetShutdowns to prevent cheating in exams in several Indian states.
@NetShutdowns

#LetTheNetWork #DigitalRights

@SFLCin had filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution against the States of #ArunachalPradesh, #Rajasthan, #Gujarat and #WestBengal, challenging the arbitrary imposition of #InternetShutdowns during examinations.
The state of #Assam was impleaded as well.

The Union has been directed to file its reply within 3 weeks. The next hearing will take place after 4 weeks. @GoI_MeitY

#SupremeCourt #InternetShutdowns

The Writ Petition was argued by Ms. @vrindagrover who is assisted by Adv. Prasanna S (AoR), Shoutik Banerjee, Swati Arya & Yuvraj Singh Rathore.

Lawyers from @SFLCin: @MishiChoudhary (Founder, @SFLCin), @PrasanthTweets (Legal Director), @RadhikaJhalani (Volunteer Legal Counsel), @smythili71 (Volunteer Legal Counsel), @arjunadriandsa (Volunteer Legal Counsel).

The phenomenon of blanket internet bans during examinations to prevent copying has become common in several Indian states. These bans primarily target mobile internet services.

#InternetShutdowns #LetTheNetWork

A total of 12 instances of exam-related #internetShutdowns were documented at @sflcin's internet shutdowns tracker - internetshutdowns.in
There have been 3 more shutdowns, 2 in Assam and 1 in West Bengal after the petition was filed bringing the total number to 15.

#KeepItOn

In January 2020, the SC in Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India upheld that the Internet is a medium for exercising the fundamental freedoms guaranteed under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(g) and ruled that the orders to shut down the internet must be made public.

#LetTheNetWork

The IT standing committee's report on #InternetShutdowns report noted that several shutdown orders have been made based on a subjective judgment and are essentially executive decisions since there is a lack of objective parameters to determine their merit

sflc.in/it-standing-co…

@SFLCin has been resisting internet shutdowns in India since 2012. To help us continue fighting to safeguard digital rights in India, support us by making a donation at: sflc.in/donate

#DigitalRights #LetTheNetWork @NetShutdowns