April in Action: Advancing Digital Rights Together
Legislative updates, community events, and the fight for accountability —catch up in 3 minutes
April was a packed month at IFF—in the best way possible!
We published fact-checks and policy reviews, pushed forward in the fight to #SaveRTI with a detailed fact-check of the Union Government’s shaky claims, and hosted a film screening and panel discussion exploring how the ever-expanding surveillance industry polices the working class. We also saw important court developments in the Pegasus Project, IT Rules 2021, and the LibGen + Sci-Hub cases.
Here’s a look at everything we’ve been up to this month:
Budget Session 2025: A Digital Rights Review
The Budget Session of Parliament ran 21 Jan – 4 Apr 2025 (recess 13 Feb – 10 Mar). Key discussions spanned
use of drones for surveillance in agriculture, healthcare and infrastructure,
AI tools and chatbots for agri‑advice, and
the feasibility of a blockchain‑based track‑and‑trace system in the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Read the full review here.
#SaveRTI: The Fight for Transparency Continues
We continued our #SaveRTI fight and published a fact‑check of Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s claim that Section 3 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act preserves RTI. It does not. The real danger lies in Section 44(3), which narrows citizens’ right to information.
Read it here.
+ Watch this 5 minute explainer by collaborator Anuj Nakade on why Section 44(3) threatens democratic accountability. 👇
✍🏽 Sign the petition to preserve your right to hold your government accountable.
You’ve Got (Blocked) Mail: Proton Mail under scrutiny by Karnataka High Court
On 29 Apr, the Karnataka High Court directed authorities to initiate proceedings to block Proton Mail under Section 69A of the IT Act, following a case where obscene, AI-generated emails were sent to a Bengaluru firm’s employees. The company argued that Proton Mail, hosted in Switzerland, poses a national security risk, citing its use in bomb threats and bans in other countries. The court accepted these claims and issued a mandamus, bypassing Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty protocols. This raises major concerns about due process, encryption, and the precedent it sets for privacy-focused services—especially when blocking procedures remain opaque and disproportionate.
Read our thread on X where we quickly breakdown why the ruling in this case will have significant consequences on privacy in India.
📚 #BreakThe(Pay)Wall: Defending Affordable Access to Research – Major publishers want the Delhi High Court to block Sci‑Hub and LibGen. IFF is supporting intervening social‑science researchers who argue such blocking will cripple academic work in India. On 17 Apr 2025 the case was adjourned at the plaintiffs’ request; next hearing: 13 Aug 2025. follow live updates on X @IFFinCourt.
📌 #PegasusProject: The Fight for Accountability – At the 29 Apr hearing, petitioners pointed to a recent U.S. court judgment in WhatsApp v. NSO, which named India as a Pegasus target, and urged the release of the Raveendran Committee report that confirmed malware on five devices. The Solicitor General opposed its disclosure, citing national security. The bench stated that portions of the report concerning private individuals may be shared with them. The case will be heard next on 30 July 2025. Stay informed—follow IFF in Court on X for the latest updates.
📌 #ITRules2021: Free Speech Under Threat – Several petitions have challenged the IT Rules, 2021, which grant the government sweeping powers over social media platforms, digital news outlets, and streaming services—raising serious concerns about potential censorship. IFF is providing legal support to Carnatic vocalist T.M. Krishna and legal news platform Live Law in this matter. At the 25 April hearing, the Court recorded that all parties have filed their affidavits and directed them to file written submissions. The next hearing is scheduled for 17 July. Stay informed—follow IFF in Court on X for the latest updates.
On 26 Apr 2025, we hosted an in-person film screening in partnership with Museum of Imagined Futures and Her Haq, a youth-led nonprofit working on gender equality and women’s rights. We screened TAAK, a film by Udit Khurana. After the screening, we invited advocates and independent journalists to join a conversation with the audience. The discussion explored key issues like surveillance, policing, safety, and bodily autonomy in today’s increasingly digital world.
We saw an audience of over 150+ policy nerds, tech skeptics, activists, and film buffs spark nuanced conversations about the shape of technology and resistance.
If you are an organisation or filmmaker who wants to collaborate with us on more events like this, write to aarushi@internetfreedom.in with your pitch!
We also partnered with Caucus, Hindu College, Delhi University for #Compass2025’s Policy Hackathon— a competition bringing young minds together to tackle real challenges at the intersection of law, tech, and policy. Along with exciting rewards for the winners and organizing committee, IFF provided the following prompt for students to deliberate upon and frame policy solutions:
💡 Your Support Fuels Our Fight!
When you donate to IFF, you join over 4,000 Indians who believe that collective action can protect and advance our constitutional freedoms in an increasingly digital world. Your support fuels our vision for an internet that’s transparent, accountable, inclusive, safe, and free. But April was tough—
Help us close the gap by setting up your own fundraiser or simply donating to become a member.
🧩 Get involved
We’re building and growing—and we’d love your help!
Help us hire our next Policy Counsel: We're looking for a sharp, driven legal mind to join our team and shape the future of tech policy in India. If that sounds like someone you know (or you!), check out the job post here.
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