The InternetFreedom Foundation was formed out of the SaveTheInternet.in campaign which was a volunteer-driven campaign. The campaign in support of net neutrality garnered over 1.2 million signatures and led the TRAI to prohibit discriminatory practices by companies on the internet. To enable structured engagement, the volunteers of the SaveTheInternet.in campaign established IFF to work on issues of privacy, free speech, net neutrality, and innovation on the internet.
Activities
IFF undertakes advocacy campaigns against blocking of websites, technology related interference in elections, free speech violations, internet censorship, and defends encryption.
Campaigns and Legislative Work
In March 2017, IFF drafted a law to reform India's defamation law which was introduced in Lok Sabha as a Private Member's Bill by Tathagata Satpathy. The bill garnered more than 2000 signatures and 54 organisational supporters, including India's largest publishing houses. In April 2017, IFF launched a campaign against internet shutdowns in India called KeepUsOnline. They petitioned the Prime Minister and the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology to introduce credible measures to stop arbitrary internet shutdowns in India. In June 2018, IFF launched the SaveOurPrivacy campaign which drafted a law on data protection which safeguards the right to privacy. The code has seven core principles, one of which calls for surveillance reform. It advocates for a law that limits mass or 'dragnet' surveillance, and lays down clear rules governing individual surveillance. It also seeks the strengthening and protection of the right to information. The bill got endorsements from more than 11,000 individuals and 34 organisations.
IFF publishes open working papers from fellows. The first research paper by Nakul Nayak studied the law and impact of internet shutdowns in India, and the second research paper by Apar Gupta and Abhinav Sekhri called attention to the continued use of Section 66A of the IT Act, despite the Supreme Court striking it down.
Support
IFF is a donor-driven organisation with recurring monthly payment subscriptions for members. It is also organisationally supported by Indian startups such as Zerodha and Sharechat. It also publishes monthly transparency reports.
