Freedom of Speech

The right to freedom of speech and expression is considered a cornerstone of democracy. This right is formally guaranteed by the Constitution of India, and is also recognized under such international documents as the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights. The Internet is a key enabler of the right to free speech, as it facilitates instant and inexpensive exchange of information across borders, and enables users to actively publish in addition to passively receive information. Online speech platforms including but not limited to blogs, discussion forums and social media play host to truly important public discourses, and permit individuals to freely express opinions and convictions without fear of repercussions in even the most repressive of regimes. We at SFLC.in consider it part of our mission to safeguard this sacrosanct right in the digital space, and to make sure that the Internet remains a bastion of free speech where users are able to express themselves with minimal restrictions.

POSTS

Online Harassment Report Release Event Poster

SFLC.in is pleased to announce the release our report titled “Online Harassment: A Form of…

Internet Shutdown

A record of instances of Internet censorship in India between 2012 and 2015 is depicted…

A writ petition filed by an Indore-based lawyer – Kamlesh Vaswani – seeking to prohibit…

Subramaniam Swamy, petitioner, is a politician from the State of Tamil Nadu. The petitioner has…

On March 9, 2015, SFLC.in requested the following information from the Department of Electronics and…

On March 24, 2015, the Supreme Court of India took an unambiguous stand in favor…

The recent arrest of a writer in Karnataka over alleged Facebook posts making sexist and…

  In order to procure details on India’s communications surveillance practices, SFLC.in had filed a…

In May 2013, the Law Commission of India had issued a Consultation Paper on Media…

President Dilma Rousseff signed into law Marco Civil da Internet, often dubbed as the Internet…

Since its introduction back in October 2000, the Information Technology Act has proved to be…

Sflc.in participated in the Third South Asian Meeting on the Internet and Freedom of Expression…