Parliament

Mixed signals: Observations on the 2021-22 Budget

Budget 2021-22 is a mixed bag. Though it contains praiseworthy allocations towards programs such as Digital India and the USOF and provides a stimulus to R&D, allocations towards the PMGDISHA remain low, while concerns remain that signficant capital expenditure may not take place.

Strengthening the Joint Parliamentary Committee process on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019

The Joint Parliamentary Committee for Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 is considering a revolutionary legislative proposal. To strengthen its process we request that the JPC work within its mandate and not consider extraneous issues, and that it consider more consultations with civil society.

Don't swipe next! We write to the Parliamentary Standing Committee for sustained hearings and an international human rights audit of Facebook India

There has been an alarming press report published in the Wall Street Journal on August 14, 2020 titled, “Facebook’s Hate-Speech Rules Collide with Indian Politics”. It merits urgent intervention and investigation into human rights breaches by Facebook India.

The pandemic session of parliament is vital for our digital rights. A call to our lawmakers!

As the much awaited Monsoon Session of the Parliament draws near, we put out a list of urgent issues in the digital, and privacy rights domain that need foolproof, and swift redressal.

From, "sheer suddenness" to sustained deliberation. A letter to the IT Standing Committee.

The IT Standing Committee is going to meet soon. We bring to its notice a backlog of issues and flag website blocking (of DuckDuckGo or Reddit), internet shutdowns and facial recognition technology.