Prasanth Sugathan

The Centre has temporarily restricted @telegram in India. Ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for 21 June, @GoI_MeitY has directed a temporary restriction on access to Telegram in India until June 22nd, 2026. The Ministry has also directed the platform to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30th, 2026. The National Testing Agency (@NTA_Exams) claims that Telegram's message-editing feature was being misused to alter old messages after an exam and insert the actual question paper, making it appear as though the paper was leaked beforehand. These restrictions have been imposed under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which empowers the government to block access to information under certain conditions. NTA has stated that restrictions have been imposed to address a "public-order concern with the minimum restriction necessary." However, SFLC.in believes that such restrictions are disproportionate, cause public disruptions, and restrict free speech. It is also stated that the restriction of Telegram does not address the issue of paper leaks, which occur through the lapse of security safeguards within NTA, and Telegram is merely one of the many methods used to circulate the same. Furthermore, Telegram is one of the widely used communication applications, with over 5M registered users in India. Restricting access to the platform, which is used by millions to communicate, without just cause or reason, is not only disproportionate but also does not address the root cause. A paper leak might still take place, albeit on a different platform. While the restriction is placed under the garb of prevention from misuse, the impending attack on free speech and blockage to communications is imminent and can not be disregarded. #NEET #freespeech #telegram @AdityaRajKaul @arvindgunasekar @upadhyay_harsh1 @logic @nit_set @SauravDassss @iArpitSpeaks @TheCurlyPoet @Memeghnad @ni5arga @sidhant_sarthak

Over the past few weeks, multiple social media posts highlighting environmental concerns surrounding the Vizag Data Center developed by @Google in partnership with AdaniConneX and @airtelindia in Visakhapatnam have been taken down. The restrictions were imposed under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Section 79(3)(b) has increasingly become a mechanism through which authorities can pressure platforms into removing content without the procedural safeguards associated with blocking orders under Section 69A of the IT Act. This World Environment Day, SFLC.in demands transparency in such content-blocking orders. It is essential for ensuring accountability, to enable affected users to challenge unlawful restrictions, and to allow the public to scrutinise government actions that impact fundamental rights. (1/3) #worldenvironmentday #datacenters #ai #freespeech #FoE @nit_set @reporters_co @ravish_journo @iArpitSpeaks @IFEX @RSF_en @amnesty @IFJGlobal @zoo_bear @IndexCensorship @whattalawyer @sohitmishra99 @REDBOXINDIIA @vsirnate @PreetiSMenon @Meta @Aafrin7866 @shamsheeryousaf @ejfoundation @Greenpeace @ClimateReality @UNFCCC

On 30 March 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released Draft Amendments to the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and has invited comments till 14th April 2026. SFLC.in is bringing together creators, civil society, journalists, and technology law experts for a focused virtual consultation. Join us. Be part of the conversation. Gain insights and understand how these amendments could impact us all. 📆 Date: 11th April 2026 (Saturday) ⏰ Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM IST 🔗 Register here: form.sflc.in/stakeholder-co… #StakeholderConsultation #ITRules2026 #FreeSpeech #DigitalFreedom

We’re pleased to share that SFLC.in’s Legal Director, Prasanth Sugathan will be speaking at the 2026 International Conference on Digital Platform Governance, organised by @GlobalPartnersD under @UNESCO Internet for Trust initiative at the University of Pretoria, South Africa (11–13 February 2026). On 13 February 2026, he will participate in the session: Promoting Rights-Respecting Platform Governance in Global South The discussion comes at a crucial moment, as countries across the region navigate questions of intermediary liability, transparency mandates, electoral integrity, and safeguards for fundamental rights. 📅 13 February 2026 ⏰ 14:00–17:00 📍 Conference Room 1 | University of Pretoria We look forward to contributing perspectives from India’s digital rights landscape and engaging in meaningful regional dialogue. #DigitalRights #PlatformGovernance #InternetForTrust #AsiaTechPolicy #HumanRights

Your website and app mentions HyperService, but there are no service centres even in a city like Cochin. I saw a number of Ola scooters dumped in the Edapally service centre. It is evident that you are not interested in service. #fail

@OlaElectric Your app schedules appointment at service centres that have closed down. I got a service appointment at Edapally in Kochi, Kerala and when I reached there I found that the centre is permanently closed. I then got an appointment at Thoppumpady which again was closed.

Have you noticed how often shops or websites ask for your phone number just to give you a bill? Your number isn't just a formality - it can be used to track your activity, send marketing messages, or link your personal data across platforms. Through our "Bill Do, Number No!" campaign, sflc.in is calling attention to this growing practice and reminding everyone that privacy is a right, not a request. Share your experience with us and help build awareness about unnecessary data collection through scanning the QR code or filling this survey form: form.sflc.in/bill-do-number… #digitalrights #dataprivacy #privacyawareness #consumerrights #india #billdonumberno #sflcin

.@MishiChoudhary accepted the 2025 EFF Award for Defending Digital Freedoms on behalf of @sflcin at the EFF Awards. You can hear her full speech TOMORROW at 12pm PT at EFF’s annual award ceremony livestream. Register now at eff.org/awards.

Cindy Cohn honors this year’s EFF Awardees: “These outstanding folks have fought for the rights of immigrant communities, stood against the ravaging of private data held by the U.S. government, and utilized their expert knowledge in service of millions of technology users.”

Congratulations to @SFLCin for being given the 2025 EFF Award for Defending Digital Freedoms!

.@MishiChoudhary of @SFLCin accepting the EFF Award: “Defending digital freedoms is a global movement. We are not isolated fighters. We are one global community. Our struggles are shared. So our are victories.”

To learn more about @SFLCin, check out our EFF Awards Spotlight: eff.org/deeplinks/2025….

.@SFLCin litigated the case of Mouthshut.com v. Union of India, the first major judgment establishing the principles of intermediary liability in India. SFLC also campaigned for WhatsApp and Facebook to fix a feature in their platform that had been used to harass women in India.

.@SFLCin was founded in 2010 by online civil liberties activist and lawyer @MishiChoudhary as the first Indian legal service organization that works exclusively on technology, law, and policy.

EFF’s @DavidGreene presents the EFF Award for Defending Digital Freedoms to @SFLCin: “They have provided a sane leadership voice to the global south while resisting governments and platform control for the past 15 years.”

#HappeningNow #joinnow Join us now and our expert panel for the launch of our awaited "Guide: Search and Seizure of Electronic Devices." If you have registered for the event, check your mail for the joining link.

#Hearing #Update #Surveillance Today, @SFLCin's impleadment application challenging police excesses before the Telangana High Court has been admitted. The main matter filed by activist S.Q. Masood challenges the conduct of Operation Romeo, Mission Chabutra, and Cordon and Search Operations (#CASO) by the Telangana police. @SFLCin counsels @arjunadriandsa and @PrasanthTweets appeared in the matter. @SFLCin had filed a representation in August 2024 to the Hon'ble CM of Telangana to forthwith halt these projects by highlighting the arbitrary detention, harassment, and surveillance of citizens. The projects function de hors any legality under the Cr.P.C. or BNSS, thereby contravening established principles laid down in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (2017) and are hence, in direct contravention of Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India. SFLC.in has been impleaded in the main matter, S.Q. Masood vs State of Telangana WP(PIL) 35/2024 which will be listed in due course. #courtcase #case #Telangana

#Live #AIinFocus Prof. @vukosi on "Building inclusive AI : lessons from Lelapa AI for India." Prof Vukosi- The more we wait to resolve issues, the more costly it becomes to address them. Data is about people. We need to see who it is that benefits and how we can capacitate today. We need to protect communities. Africa cannot become a cheap data market.

.@SFLCin challenged the #internetshutdowns imposed in #Jharkhand on 6th February 2022 and 10th - 11th June 2022 on grounds of non-publication of orders and established principles of law laid down by the #supremecourt. @shaileshpoddar from @SFLCin's #DigitalDefenders Network appeared for the petitioners. Counsel @MishiChoudhary, @PrasanthTweets, and @arjunadriandsa assisted in filing the petition. #Highcourt #internetshutdown #LetTheNetWork #ApplyNow

#InternetShutdown #Telangana We have been receiving reports of an #Internet shutdown in Jainoor, Kumaram Bheem Asifabad district, Telangana, since September 4, 2024. #LetTheNetWork #KeepItOn #Jainoor #Asifabad