SFLC.in

16 years. Countless battles. One mission: your freedom online. Since 2010, SFLC.in has stood in the courtrooms, the policy rooms, and on the frontlines to defend your right to speak, to privacy, and to a free internet. None of it would have been possible without you. But the fight isn't over. It's only getting harder. We need your support to survive this fight. Every contribution keeps digital rights alive in India. Donate here: pages.razorpay.com/donate-to-sflc… #digitalrights

🚨 SCAM ALERT! ⚠️ Creators on @instagram are being targeted by a fake copyright strike scam. Scammers falsely claim you’re infringing their intellectual property, then leave comments and send DMs threatening to file more copyright complaints until your account is suspended or until you pay them to stop. If you’ve received a copyright strike, don’t panic. Watch this video to learn how this scam works and the steps you can take to protect your account. If you or someone you know is facing this scam or any other digital rights violation, report it to RightsLine for pro bono legal assistance. Report here: rightsline.sflc.in #DigitalArrest #OnlineScam #CyberSecurity #CyberCrime @Meta @AdvTubaSanobar @sohitmishra99 @ivaibhavk @_prashantkadam @akhmxt @logic @CyberVineet @Cyberdost @DoT_India @MahaCyber1 @csppartyglobal

Thank you. Really appreciate the support.

We've come across several cases involving the same scam pattern. If you are looking for guidance on recovering your account or understanding the available legal remedies, our RightsLine can help. We've assisted several X users in restoring access to their accounts through our pro bono legal support. Report your case here: rightsline.sflc.in

"So I got that vote for my @Spotify Twitter DM from a friend last week. I signed in to vote for him. It didn't work. Then, a day later, they hacked my account and locked me out before I could change my password. I am still locked out, and it is... doing it to other people..

We've come across several cases involving the same scam pattern. If anyone affected is looking for guidance on recovering their account or understanding the available legal remedies, our RightsLine can help. We've assisted several X users in restoring access to their accounts through our pro bono legal support. Report your case here: rightsline.sflc.in

WARNING FOR ALL WHO DO NOT WANT THEIR X HANDLE TO BE HACKED Please do not click on any link like this even if shared by any of your closest friends in DM This immediately leads to hacking of your account Folks who have already lost their handles : @ColHunnyBakshi @BhaavnaArora @kartikeya_1975 If you're friends with them, do not click on any link shared by them as their handles are under control of hackers now

Transparency is essential to protecting free speech. Yet we've seen many instances of content takedowns where users were not informed of the reasons behind the decision. This makes it difficult for users to challenge it or seek accountability from platforms. If you're seeking guidance on how to challenge this decision, you can reach out to us through RightsLine. We are providing pro bono legal assistance to people facing content takedowns and other digital rights violations: rightsline.sflc.in SFLC.in's Free Speech Tracker is also documenting free speech violations in India, including film bans, book bans, content takedowns, and website blocking. Check it out here: freespeech.sflc.in

Note to readers. cc: @Article14live @samar11 @betwasharma cc: @internetfreedom @apar1984 @HoneyTrehan

We are excited to partner with @opennetkr for our upcoming event, 'What Age Assurance Means for the Future of Digital Rights, Online Safety, and the Internet at Large.' Join us to explore how governments are shaping age assurance laws, the role of platforms in implementing these requirements, and the risks posed by such obligations on users' fundamental rights, online safety, and the future of the open. 🗓️: 16 July 2026 🕑: 7:30-9:00 PM IST 💻: Online Registrations closing soon! Register here: form.sflc.in/what-age-assur… #socialmediaban #ageverification #childrights #Stopkillinginternet @IndexCensorship @OpenRightsGroup @StopKilingGames @EFF

We're glad our RightsLine could help @mbbAsh restore access to her account. Through RightsLine, SFLC.in is providing pro bono legal assistance to people facing digital rights violations, including cyber fraud, online gender-based violence, account suspensions, and content takedowns. If you or someone you know is facing digital rights violations, report it to RightsLine: rightsline.sflc.in Our team is working round the clock to defend digital rights. To help us keep our work going, support us by donating here: pages.razorpay.com/donate-to-sflc…

Independent media and smaller newsrooms often bear the brunt of these opaque content takedown practices, making knowledge sharing and collective action more crucial than ever. In the next video from our series with @RSF_inter, 'Protecting Press Freedom in the Digital Age,' hear firsthand experiences of @MnshaP (@newslaundry), @geetaseshu (@indiafreespeech), and @klmeera (@KhabarLahariya). If you are a journalist or creator facing a content takedown or account suspension, you don't have to navigate it alone. Report it to our RightsLine for free legal assistance: rightsline.sflc.in You can also explore @RSF_inter's multilingual resources for practical guidance to help journalists stay safe: rsf.org/sites/default/… #freespeech #censorship #pressfreedom #FoE @UNESCO @PENamerica @TheCAOV @IWMF @NidhiSuresh_ @RanaAyyub @dhanyarajendran @IFEX @amnesty @IFJGlobal @IndexCensorship @theGNI @kalpana1947 @nit_set @Article14live @Info_Activism @CPJAsia @globalfreemedia @mediadefence @openmarkets @AsiaSociety @witnessorg @CFWIJ @unwomenasia @FeminismInIndia @sharetoproblems @APC_News @Aditi_muses @AroonDeep @AdityaRajKaul @arvindgunasekar @upadhyay_harsh1 @logic @SauravDassss @iArpitSpeaks @TheCurlyPoet @ni5arga @sidhant_sarthak @nakulssawhney

Nine years ago today, individuals across the globe united for the "Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality." Today, SFLC.in reaffirms its commitment to a free, open, and equal internet that protects privacy, enables free expression, and ensures equal access to resources for everyone, everywhere. Help us defend digital rights and keep the internet free and open. Support our work by donating here: pages.razorpay.com/donate-to-sflc… #Netneutrality #stopkillinginternet #FOSS @IndexCensorship @StopKilingGames @opennetkr @EFF @OpenRightsGroup @RSF_inter @defenddigitalme @iure_cz @HostingHavenUS

Meta has taken down its newly launched Muse Image, an AI image generator integrated into its platforms, which allows users to create AI-generated images and videos using content from public Instagram accounts, including profile pictures, simply by tagging the account in a prompt. In @ThePrintIndia, SFLC.in's founder, @mishichoudhary, highlighted the privacy implications of this feature and the risks of impersonation, targeted harassment, and fraud, particularly when realistic synthetic images can be generated at scale. SFLC.in also prepared a short guide on how to opt out. Read it here: x.com/SFLCin/status/… Read the full article here: theprint.in/india/govt-to-… @vrinda_tulsian @metaai #MetaAI #privacy #deepfakes

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, @ni5arga. Any measure affecting online privacy should satisfy the three-part test of legality, necessity, and proportionality laid down in the landmark Puttaswamy judgment. Mandatory e-KYC for all domain registrants and the removal of privacy protection by default definitely affect a wide range of legitimate and vulnerable users, including journalists, researchers, survivors of abuse, and small businesses. Without privacy protections, such users face a higher risk of doxxing, harassment, stalking, identity theft, and other online harms, including cyber fraud. To effectively combat cyber fraud, there must be efforts to strengthen local law enforcement, respond more quickly to malicious domains, and increase public awareness across all demographics. The directions could also have implications beyond India, as many registrars operate on a global scale. As this issue evolves, SFLC.in will continue to examine how these measures affect the balance between cybersecurity objectives and the protection of privacy and other fundamental rights. @GoDaddy

According to media reports, @WhatsApp has submitted its response to @GoI_MeitY's notice over concerns that its newly announced username feature could increase incidents of online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks. In @ttindia, SFLC.in's founder, @mishichoudhary, discusses what this feature could mean for the cybersecurity of ordinary citizens. Read the full article here: telegraphindia.com/business/india… @kunalb11 @Meta @durov @MathuresP

We are excited to partner with @OpenRightsGroup for our upcoming event, 'What Age Assurance Means for the Future of Digital Rights, Online Safety, and the Internet at Large.' Join us to explore how governments are shaping age assurance laws, the role of platforms in implementing these requirements, and the risks posed by such obligations on users' fundamental rights, online safety, and the future of the open. 🗓️: 16 July 2026 🕑: 7:30-9:00 PM IST 💻: Online Register here: form.sflc.in/what-age-assur… #socialmediaban #ageverification #childrights #Stopkillinginternet @IndexCensorship @StopKilingGames @opennetkr @EFF

SFLC.in's Free Speech Tracker has documented over 200 cases of content takedown in just over half a year. When journalists face such takedowns, the consequences extend beyond individual posts and directly impact press freedom. In this video from our series with @RSF_inter, 'Protecting Press Freedom in the Digital Age,' we explore how content takedowns are impacting reporting. Watch to hear firsthand experiences from @MnshaP (@newslaundry), @geetaseshu (@indiafreespeech), and @klmeera (@KhabarLahariya). If you are a journalist or creator facing a content takedown or account suspension, you don't have to navigate it alone. Report it to our RightsLine for free legal assistance: rightsline.sflc.in You can also explore Reporters Without Borders (RSF)'s multilingual resources for practical guidance to help journalists stay safe: rsf.org/sites/default/… #freespeech #censorship #pressfreedom #FoE @UNESCO @PENamerica @TheCAOV @IWMF @NidhiSuresh_ @RanaAyyub @dhanyarajendran @IFEX @amnesty @IFJGlobal @IndexCensorship @theGNI @kalpana1947 @nit_set @Article14live @Info_Activism @CPJAsia @globalfreemedia @mediadefence @openmarkets @AsiaSociety @witnessorg @CFWIJ @unwomenasia @FeminismInIndia @sharetoproblems @APC_News @Aditi_muses @AroonDeep @AdityaRajKaul @arvindgunasekar @upadhyay_harsh1 @logic @SauravDassss @iArpitSpeaks @TheCurlyPoet @ni5arga @sidhant_sarthak

@TheSumedha14 @thesumedha7 @Meta @instagram @kevin @mikeyk If you're seeking free legal assistance or guidance on how to navigate through the available redressal mechanisms, you can report it to our RightsLine: rightsline.sflc.in

My Instagram account @thesumedha7 was disabled following 8 copyright reports against content that I created and own. The reports used variations of my YouTube channel name, TheSumedha14, as the alleged rights owner while listing five different Outlook email addresses that I do not recognize or authorize. I can provide YouTube Studio ownership records, original video files, raw footage, editing project files, publication history, and all eight Meta copyright removal notices demonstrating my ownership. A previous content appeal was rejected without resolving the underlying ownership dispute. @Meta @instagram @kevin @mikeyk , I respectfully request an urgent human account-level review. Please verify the identity and authority of the reporting parties, review my ownership evidence, investigate potential misuse of the copyright reporting system, and restore my account if the reports are found to be invalid. I am seeking a fair, impartial, and evidence-based review. #Instagram #Meta #CreatorRights #Copyright #CopyrightAbuse

Meet our speakers! 🥁 We are excited to announce the speakers for our upcoming event, 'What Age Assurance Means for the Future of Digital Rights, Online Safety, and the Internet at Large.' - @JamesBaker, Programme Manager at @OpenRightsGroup - Nicholas Williams, Policy and Campaigns Officer at @IndexCensorship - @Moritz_Katzner, General Director at @StopKilingGames - Paige Collings, Senior Speech and Privacy Activist at @EFF Join us for a discussion on the global regulatory landscape of age assurance! 🗓️: 16 July 2026 🕑: 7:30-9:00 PM IST 💻: Online Register now: form.sflc.in/what-age-assur… Stay tuned for more updates! #socialmediaban #ageverification #childrights #Stopkillinginternet @defenddigitalme @opennetkr @iure_cz @HostingHavenUS

The Divisional Commissioner of Bharatpur, Rajasthan, has ordered internet shutdown across Gangapur City, Wazirpur, and Bamanwas for 24 hours till July 9th. #KeepItOn #LetTheNetWork

Government-enforced takedowns that censor political speech, satire, or journalism may violate Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India. Where a takedown raises issues of free expression, a public interest writ petition may be filed before the High Court or the Supreme Court to challenge it. If you or someone you know is facing a free speech violation, SFLC.in can help identify the appropriate legal remedy and guide you through every step of the process. To seek free legal assistance, report it to our RightsLine: rightsline.sflc.in (3/3) #freespeech #pressfreedom #FoE

In Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015), the Supreme Court held that any government blocking order under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000, must be reasoned, necessary, and proportionate, with the reasons recorded in writing to enable judicial review. If no valid order has been issued, or if due process, such as a pre-decisional hearing or the recording of written reasons, has not been followed, that itself can be a ground to challenge the takedown. (2/3) #freespeech #pressfreedom #FoE

It's saddening to see that the IT Act, 2000, continues to be used to suppress the voices of independent journalists and digital creators like @shristhikhanna. If you're facing a government-ordered takedown, you may have legal options to challenge it. Know what can be done. 🧵 (1/3) #freespeech #pressfreedom #FoE