Adnan Bhat is a journalist based in New Delhi, India.

Indian government gives itself the power to “fact-check” and delete social media posts

12 Apr 2023  |  Rest of World  |  English  |  Press freedom

The Indian government has amended its technology rules, empowering a state-run fact-checking unit to label information as 'fake, false or misleading' and mandate social media platforms and ISPs to remove such content. Non-compliance could lead to loss of safe harbor protection for these platforms. This move has sparked concerns among journalists, activists, and opposition parties, who view it as a means for the government to control the narrative and suppress independent reporting. The Editors Guild of India and the opposition Indian National Congress have criticized the amendment for its potential to infringe on press freedom and freedom of speech. A court petition has been filed by comedian Kunal Kamra, and the Bombay High Court has sought a government response. The Internet Freedom Foundation has also expressed concerns about the lack of accountability in the government's definition of 'misleading' information.

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Internet Freedom Foundation Indian government Rest of World The Caravan Bombay High Court Editors Guild of India Indian National Congress Bharatiya Janata Party Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Press Information Bureau

Puja Bhattacharjee is an independent journalist based in Kolkata, India. She covers health, science, environment, gender, justice, rights, and culture. Check out her reporting portfolio at ****

India: Moderating Hate In A Polarized Society

01 Oct 2023  |  Digital Rights Monitor  |  English  |  Government Regulation

The article discusses the challenges faced by journalists and minority communities in India due to online hate speech and government regulations. It highlights incidents of trolling and legal threats against journalists, particularly those from Muslim and Christian backgrounds. The role of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp in amplifying divisive content is scrutinized, with criticisms directed at their algorithms and corporate accountability. The Indian government's regulatory measures and their impact on digital freedom are also examined, alongside expert opinions on the complexities of moderating online hate speech.

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Internet Freedom Foundation Centre for Internet and Society Uttar Pradesh Government Sangh Parivar Indian Government

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Sara Creta is an Italian multimedia-journalist, specializing in coverage of humanitarian issues worldwide. With an emphasis on stories that dignify the human struggle, she works closely with NGOs and social service groups to document on-the-ground conditions in forced migration situation, human ...

Coronavirus, inequality and the digital divide

30 Apr 2020  |  RTE.ie  |  English  |  Inequality

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the global digital divide, with billions lacking internet access despite its critical role in managing the crisis. The article discusses the disparity in internet access across both developed and developing countries, emphasizing the need for policies to ensure connectivity for all. It criticizes government-imposed internet shutdowns in countries like Bangladesh and India, which hinder access to vital information. Human rights organizations and advocacy groups are calling for immediate action to make the internet affordable and accessible, especially in vulnerable regions. The pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities, underscoring the urgent need to address the digital divide.

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Internet Freedom Foundation World Wide Web Foundation United Nations FCC World Health Organization Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Reporters Without Borders NetBlocks

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Erin Hale is a journalist based in Taipei.

‘Orwellian’: EU’s push to mass scan private messages on WhatsApp, Signal

20 Jun 2024  |  www.aljazeera.com  |  English  |  Surveillance

The European Union is considering legislation to mass scan private communications on encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal for child sex abuse material. The proposed law, known as Chat Control 2.0, has sparked significant controversy, with critics arguing it undermines end-to-end encryption and could lead to mass surveillance. Supporters, including EU officials and law enforcement, argue it is necessary to combat child exploitation. The legislation faces opposition from privacy advocates, tech companies, and some EU member states, who warn of potential security vulnerabilities and misuse. The Council of the EU is set to vote on the proposal, which, if passed, will move to the next legislative phase.

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Internet Freedom Foundation Electronic Frontier Foundation Internet Watch Foundation Council of the EU European Parliament US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children NSA Mozilla Proton European Digital Rights Irish Council for Civil Liberties

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Jimena Ledgard is a multimedia journalist based in Lima, Peru. She covers the environment, social unrest, politics, the war on drugs, human rights and tech in Peru, but has also reported on Mexico, Venezuela and Chile. She is a former grantee of the Fundación Gabo, the Open Society Foundation and ...

India’s right to be forgotten law could silence state critics

01 Dec 2021  |  Rest of World  |  English  |  Data Privacy

India is considering a right to be forgotten law as part of its Personal Data Protection bill, which could allow individuals to request the removal of personal data from search engines. While this could protect personal privacy, there are concerns that the law could be misused by the government to suppress free speech and protect the interests of the powerful. The bill proposes appointing special officers to adjudicate these requests, raising fears of corruption and abuse. The article highlights the potential consequences of adopting such a law without considering India's unique legal and cultural context.

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Internet Freedom Foundation Internet Governance Project Indian Government European Court of Justice Bharatiya Janata Party

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Daniel Lippman is a journalist based in Washington, United States of America.

Chamber stocks up on GOP aides

03 Sept 2024  |  www.politico.com  |  English  |  Republican Party

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is strengthening its lobbying team by hiring former GOP aides, including those who worked with Rodney Davis and Kevin McCarthy. This move aims to improve relations with congressional Republicans amid ongoing tax negotiations. Meanwhile, the AI lobbying software LobbyMatic, linked to far-right figures Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, has been gaining attention, with clients like Toyota and Lantheus. The article also highlights various lobbying and political appointments, including Democratic aides joining K Street and crypto executives supporting Kamala Harris's campaign. Additionally, Viktor Orbán's influence efforts in the U.S. and Europe are noted, alongside new lobbying registrations and terminations.

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Freedom Democrats Obama Foundation Internet Society Heritage Foundation Heritage Foundation U.S. Chamber of Commerce House Administration Committee House Energy and Commerce Committee House Appropriations Committee House Armed Services Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee Federal Street Strategies BlackRock Democratic National Convention Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld Defense Department Pentagon Securities and Exchange Commission Wall Street Journal Conservative Partnership Institute MCC Brussels NATO Consumer Brands Association Invariant Pallas Advisors Dropbox DoorDash House Budget Committee AT&T Socure Center for Renewing America Democratic Majority for Israel NFL United Nations Information Center Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development NTIA’S First Responder Network Authority Benenson Strategy Group Ipsos Public Affairs GoFundMe Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP WilmerHale DOJ Conference of State Bank Supervisors American Bankers Association PenFed Credit Union Block Inc. Truist CFPB Capital One Equifax General Services Administration BlueGreen Alliance Americans for a Clean Energy Grid American Clean Power Association Nuclear Regulatory Commission McGuireWoods Squire Patton Boggs California Privacy Protection Agency Household and Commercial Products Association America First Policy Institute French Ministry of Foreign Affairs French Embassy American Immigration Council Center for Law and Social Policy Executive Platforms Board.org Council on Foreign Relations Progressive Policy Institute POLITICO Alliance for Justice State Voices Falling Leaves LLC Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance Voters of Tomorrow PAC Grassroots Democrats HQ NRSC California Democratic Party Democratic State Committee (Delaware) Washington State Democratic Central Committee New York State Democratic Committee North Carolina Democratic Party - Federal Coyote PAC American Pharmacies, Inc. American Resolve PAC Inc. Americans for Peace Super PAC APP Big Family PAC Asian Americans for Progressive America Black2Red Black Girl Pac Black Leadership Federal PAC Blue Vision Brothas, Inc. California Republican County Chairmens Association Dallas Democrats Democrats Vote Digital Identity Rights PAC Draft James Comer for Governor Emerging Prosperity PAC Flip Texas Blue Fed FTW PAC Georgia Life Alliance PAC GOD SUPER PAC GOPAC Foundation IOWA VALUES PAC Maga Meme PAC MAHA PAC Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) PAC MI 4th Congressional District Democrats Michigan to Win Midland Financial Co. Political Action Committee Montana Voters PAC Moving Montana Forward National Democrats Nigerian Americans for Harris Walz Nigerians For Harris Walz NY Common Ground Our Blue Nation Planned Parenthood Votes North Carolina Political Action Committee for Foundational Black And Original Americans Protecting Ohio’s Future PAC Proven Leadership PAC Red State PAC San Juan Democratic Election PAC Save Social Security and Medicare Now Sticker Pac Turn Mississippi Blue Unconditional Security PAC United Food And Commercial Workers Union Local 400 PAC Unity For A Better Future WE DECIDE Win Tennessee PAC Win USA Pac LLC Density, Inc. Novelis Inc. Council For Affordable And Rural Housing Enstructure LLC Perdue Farms Inc. Kreindler & Kreindler LLP Marshall Of Cambridge Manitoba Hydro Dimare Fresh, LLC Vetcomm Liquid Cooling Coalition Immad Collaborative Physician Partners, LLC Uc Health, LLC And Its Affiliates Council Of Producers And Distributors Of Agrotechnology Bayh-Dole Coaliton City Of Granite Falls Saic Gatx Corporation Hillsborough County Public Schools Polk City Fl Lifelink Foundation Inc. Hitachi Energy USa Inc Charles Warren Sens Living Fresno Inc Tai Ginsberg & Associates, LLC At-Sea Processors Association Pyro Spectaculars, Inc. Qpo Energy, LLC Happiest Baby, Inc. Sixth Street Partners, LLC End Chronic Disease Niron Magnetics Penske Truck Leasing Company, L.P. Talen Energy Pinterest, Inc. Grimco, Inc. City And Borough Of Wrangell Alaska Communities For Responsible And Efficient Waterways (Crew) City Of Downey, Ca Element US Nts Moas Suffolk-Northeast Construction USac National Wic Association Paulson & Co. Inc. Rebellion Defense, Inc. Professional Beauty Association U.S. Pioneer Inc. Muwekma Ohlone Tribe Equinor Asa Kosmos Energy LLC Shell Oil Company The Aes Corporation Vulcan Materials Company Compass Working Capital Richland School District Californians For School Facilities Clovis Unified School District National Forest Counties & Schools Coalition Rebuild America’S Schools Coalition Mighty Earth The Center On Budget And Policy Priorities Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation Polly Klaas Foundation Ws2 Ranch, LLC Better Solutions For Healthcare Anti-Corruption Foundation Inc. Atlas Space Operations

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Alastair McCready is editor for regional magazine Southeast Asia Globe, based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He is able to provide editing, photography and reporting, as well as contacts in country and across the region.

Twitter Is Taking the Indian Government to Court Over 'Abuse of Power'

05 Jul 2023  |  www.vice.com  |  English  |  Legal Dispute

Twitter has filed a judicial review against the Indian government's orders to take down tweets and user accounts, challenging what it calls an 'abuse of power.' The government has demanded the removal of posts critical of its actions, threatening criminal prosecution for non-compliance. The legal battle highlights the increasing control over social media in India, with significant implications for activists, journalists, and human rights advocates. The article discusses the broader context of India's restrictive laws and the global response to these measures.

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Freedom House Internet Freedom Foundation Indian Government Bharatiya Janata Party

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I'm an independent journalist, based in Amsterdam, with a keen interest in press freedom, human rights and podcasting. With experience in producing, reporting and presenting news for radio, television and online content using software like Avid Media Manager and Adobe Audition, I currently ...

Why is X suing the Indian government as Musk woos Modi?

22 Mar 2025  |  www.aljazeera.com  |  English  |  Social Media

Elon Musk's social media platform X has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government, alleging unlawful censorship practices through a new mechanism that bypasses judicial review. The lawsuit coincides with Musk's efforts to expand his business ventures, including Starlink and Tesla, in India. The Indian government, under the Bharatiya Janata Party, is criticized for its digital authoritarianism and censorship, while X is also scrutinized for its lack of transparency in content moderation. Despite the legal dispute, experts believe Musk's business prospects in India remain strong due to his leverage and investment potential.

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Internet Freedom Foundation Indian Government Bharatiya Janata Party Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology The Wilson Center

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Varsha Torgalkar is a journalist based in Mumbai, India. I have covered agrarian crisis, communal violence and human rights. I also write on travel.

Digital blackmail and endless threats: scammy loan apps soar across India

01 Oct 2022  |  restofworld.org  |  English  |  Financial Fraud

In India, fraudulent mobile loan apps like Rich Cash and Sharp Loan are exploiting users, leading to over 700 complaints of harassment by recovery agents in Pune in early 2022. Victims, such as Jafar Khan and Sonali Manjare, faced threats and blackmail when attempting to repay loans. The Reserve Bank of India's report highlights a significant increase in digital lending and the prevalence of illegal apps, many linked to Chinese entities. Despite efforts to regulate the industry, victims have little recourse, and the RBI is considering setting up a self-regulatory organization and proposing legislation to address the issue.

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Internet Freedom Foundation Reserve Bank of India CashlessConsumer

Hanan Zaffar is a journalist based in New Delhi, India.

Deepfakes have penetrated India’s general election

21 May 2024  |  www.fairplanet.org  |  English  |  Artificial Intelligence

India's general election is witnessing the increasing use of deepfakes and AI technology, raising concerns about misinformation and electoral integrity. Divyendra Singh Jadoun, founder of The Indian Deepfaker, highlights ethical dilemmas in AI usage for political campaigns. The Internet Freedom Foundation and other organizations express alarm over the potential misuse of AI, urging political parties to refrain from deceptive practices. The Election Commission of India has consulted tech companies like OpenAI to mitigate AI risks. Despite these efforts, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and other political entities are accused of exploiting AI for campaign purposes, prompting calls for stricter regulations and responsible use of technology.

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Internet Freedom Foundation Bharatiya Janata Party Election Commission of India Indian Government

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