Statement on the Indian government's order to GitHub to block BitChat: The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (@Cyberdost ) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) has ordered GitHub (@github) to remove three URLs linking to BitChat, an app that works offline without an internet connection and enables users to communicate over Bluetooth. This order was issued under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, read with Rule 3(1)(d) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. During the internet shutdowns imposed on multiple occasions over the past week in parts of Central Delhi, many protesters faced difficulties communicating or seeking emergency services. Open-source applications like BitChat allow people to communicate with other people using the same application nearby, without an internet connection. The order states that the application would impede the state's ability to conduct lawful interception and surveillance and enable users to circumvent lawful restrictions such as internet shutdowns. The notice was issued at 11:16 PM on 23rd July and has given GitHub three hours to remove the links. However, the order fails to satisfy the tests of legality, necessity, and proportionality and constitutes as an abject misuse of Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, read with Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules 2021. At the outset, Section 79(3)(b) does not confer the power to block or remove content, which instead stems from Section 69A of the IT Act. The issuance of orders with generic grounds is further inconsistent with the safeguards laid down by the Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India. The Supreme Court upheld Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000 strictly because it required that blocking orders must be reasoned, necessary, and proportionate, and that such reasons must be recorded in writing to enable judicial review. The opacity surrounding these removals goes against the strict requirements of accountability and record-keeping embedded in the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009. The only reason this particular order in the current instance became public is not due to dissemination by the issuing authority, but rather because @Jack posted about the same on X. What we see emerging through these removals is a system of informal, decentralised censorship, where the government can direct content removals without transparency or oversight. The lack of information renders a meaningful legal challenge impossible and leaves affected parties without legal redressal, including the basic elements of review that Section 69A provides when read with the Blocking Rules 2009. Orders passed under Section 79(3)(b) therefore function as circumventions of the procedural safeguards enumerated under Section 69A of the IT Act. @jack @BitchatMe_ @callebtc @FOSSUnited @GitHubPolicy @GithubProjects #FOSS #internetshutdown

We are fighting to defend your digital rights! SFLC.in's PIL before the Hon'ble Delhi High Court challenging the orders suspending mobile internet services in parts of Central Delhi during the #CJPProtests is listed for today at 2:30 PM. Watch the hearing here: dhcvirtualcourt.webex.com/wb… #internetshutdown #KeepInOn #LetTheNetWork

SFLC.in has filed a PIL before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court challenging the orders pertaining to the suspension of mobile internet services in parts of Central Delhi during the July 2026 protests. The matter is listed before Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia for today. The petition raises significant constitutional and statutory questions concerning the exercise of powers under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024. It challenges six separate shutdown orders issued over a period of seven days, contending that restrictions on access to the internet must satisfy the constitutional requirements of legality, necessity, proportionality, and procedural fairness. It also seeks judicial scrutiny of whether the statutory safeguards contained in the 2024 Rules were complied with before directing repeated suspension of mobile internet services. @Cockroachisback @whattalawyer @SauravDassss @abhijeet_dipke @shruti26tomar @ANI @newslaundry @thenewsminute @PTI_News @barandbench @LiveLawIndia @Smita_Sharma @MnshaP @ravish_journo @arvindgunasekar @vijaita @AroonDeep @nabilajamal_ @Benarasiyaa @voicesindians @NidhiSuresh_ @Nidhi @ranvijaylive @Article19_India @BhardwajAnanya @anishgawande @HelleLyngSvends @_YogendraYadav @RSF_inter @AltNews @zoo_bear @thewire_in @newslaundry @di_shawarma @sadhika_tiwari @MahuaMoitra @KhabarLahariya @kafkasbluebug @ThePrintIndia @aseemmanchanda @ndtv @MaktoobMedia @AneeshaMathur @PoojaShali

Joining the protests? Check out some tools to stay connected in case of an internet shutdown. 👇 #internetshutdown #LetTheNetWork #KeepItOn

Your privacy matters, especially during protests. SFLC.in has put together a list of open-source messaging and social media platforms that can help you communicate more securely. Check them out below. 👇 Help us keep the public informed and build a record of internet shutdowns! Report shutdowns on our RightsLine: rightsline.sflc.in #internetshutdown #LetTheNetWork #KeepInOn

Internet shutdowns often disrupt access to information, emergency services, and the ability to stay connected with family, friends, and fellow protesters. SFLC.in has listed some messaging platforms that can help you communicate with people nearby, even without an internet connection. Check them out here 👇 #internetshutdown #LetTheNetWork #KeepInOn @accessnow @SaketGokhale @AroonDeep @di_shawarma @Himansh10423434 @cookykoyalogy @vijaita @only_shans_ @iArpitSpeaks @RanaAyyub @Cockroachisback @KhabarLahariya @whattalawyer @SauravDassss @abhijeet_dipke @Smita_Sharma @MnshaP @ravish_journo @arvindgunasekar @vijaita @AroonDeep @nabilajamal_ @Benarasiyaa @voicesindians @NidhiSuresh_ @Nidhi @ranvijaylive @Article19_India @BhardwajAnanya @anishgawande @HelleLyngSvends @_YogendraYadav

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/files/… #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

Meta has launched Muse Image, an AI image generator integrated into @instagram, @WhatsApp, and other @Meta platforms. Along with the usual image generation and editing features, it allows users to create AI-generated images/videos using content from public Instagram accounts, including profile pictures, by simply tagging the account in a prompt. What is particularly concerning is that public accounts are opted in by default and that users are not notified when their content is used by others in Meta’s AI features. This default opt-in model shifts the burden to users to actively protect their privacy, instead of requiring their explicit consent before their content can be used. It also raises concerns about informed consent, misuse of personal images, and the use of publicly shared content for AI-generated creations without prior notification. Follow the steps below to opt out and protect your privacy. 👇 #MetaAI #GenAI #Deepfake #privacy #CSAM @divyaconnects @danielsilas @BBCanshul @alishan_jafri @dhanyarajendran @AIatMeta @zoo_bear @AroonDeep

What happens when reporting the truth puts your safety, privacy, and dignity at risk? 🗣️🚨 Online gender-based violence has become a reality for many journalists. For them, speaking up often comes at a cost. 🔈📰 In the latest video from our series, Protecting Press Freedom in the Digital Age, in collaboration with @RSF_inter, we bring you the voices of those who refuse to be silenced. 💪🏼 We speak with @MnshaP from @newslaundry, @geetaseshu from @indiafreespeech, @klmeera from @KhabarLahariya, and Suneeta Prajapati from Chambal Media about their experiences of online gender-based violence and its impact on their work, safety, and freedom of expression. 🗞️ No journalist should have to choose between their voice and their safety. 🚫 If you have experienced online harassment, threats, or abuse, we are here to listen and support you. SFLC.in provides legal guidance and resources to help protect your rights and safety online. Share your experience with us at [email protected]. #onlinesafety #digitalrights #genderviolence #privacy #pressfreedom #freespeech @UNESCO @PENamerica @TheCAOV @IWMF @NidhiSuresh_ @RanaAyyub @rohini_mohan @aishwaria_s @rupa_jha @chitraSD @dhanyarajendran @IFEX @amnesty @IFJGlobal @IndexCensorship @theGNI @kalpana1947 @nit_set @Article14live @Info_Activism @CPJAsia @globalfreemedia @mediadefence @openmarkets @AsiaSociety @witnessorg @CFWIJ @unwomenasia @FeminismInIndia @sharetoproblems @APC_News

Such internet shutdowns impact press freedom and the public’s right to access information. The disruption of communication channels and restrictions on the flow of information hinder on-ground reporting and limit citizens' access to timely and reliable information. To understand how these digital restrictions affect on-ground reporting, SFLC.in, in collaboration with @RSF_inter, has launched a video series, 'Protecting Press Freedom in the Digital Age.' In the first part of our series, we speak with Amit Kumar (@kumar_86_amit), Executive Editor of @EastMojo, about how internet shutdowns are imposed, the challenges of reporting without connectivity, and the steps journalists can take to stay prepared when the internet goes dark. Watch our videos here: - youtube.com/shorts/yMTg_Qg7E… - youtu.be/i4vWhVU8T1g?si=jguD… #KeepItOn #internetshutdown #pressfreedom #LetTheNetWork @access @nit_set @ravish_journo @geetaseshu @KhabarLahariya @dhanyarajendran @IFEX @amnesty @IFJGlobal @zoo_bear @IndexCensorship @sohitmishra99 @vsirnate @SauravDassss @theGNI @kalpana1947 @Article14live @reporters_co @Info_Activism @CPJAsia @globalfreemedia @mediadefence @thomsonreuters @openmarkets @AsiaSociety @witnessorg

Information flow is the biggest casualty of internet shutdowns. 🛜❌ How do shutdowns happen? And how can journalists prepare when connectivity is cut off? 📵🚨 In the latest video from our series, 'Protecting Press Freedom in the Digital Age,' Amit Kumar (@kumar_86_amit), Executive Editor of @EastMojo, shares his insights on the impact of internet shutdowns on digital journalism and the importance of preparedness. In collaboration with @RSF_inter, we have developed practical guides and response strategies to help journalists navigate internet shutdowns. Access the resources here: resources.rsf.org. 🗣️🎙️ Next in the series, we will address online gender-based violence faced by women journalists. Stay tuned! 🔈 #privacy #surveillance #internetshutdown #KeepItOn #freespeech #pressfreedom #freespeech #FoE @accessnow @geetaseshu @KhabarLahariya @dhanyarajendran @Memeghnad @ravish_journo @IFEX @amnesty @IFJGlobal @zoo_bear @IndexCensorship @sohitmishra99 @vsirnate @SauravDassss @theGNI @kalpana1947 @samzsays @MathewLiz @parthpunter @Article14live @reporters_co @Info_Activism @nit_set @CPJAsia @IndexCensorship @globalfreemedia @mediadefence @thomsonreuters @openmarkets @AsiaSociety @witnessorg @craignewmark

When the internet goes down, digital journalists lose their lifeline. In the second video of our series, ‘Protecting Press Freedom in the Digital Age,’ we break down how these blackouts happen and how journalists can prepare. Keep an eye on your feed. The second video is coming soon! 🥁 Explore our resources on understanding and responding to internet shutdowns as journalists, developed in collaboration with @RSF_en: resources.rsf.org/ #privacy #surveillance #internetshutdown #KeepItOn #freespeech #pressfreedom #freespeech #FoE @nit_set @geetaseshu @KhabarLahariya @EastMojo @kumar_86_amit @medianama @dhanyarajendran @ravish_journo @TheDeshBhakt @IFEX @amnesty @IFJGlobal @zoo_bear @IndexCensorship @PeekTV_in @sohitmishra99 @vsirnate @SauravDassss @theGNI @Article14live @reporters_co @Info_Activism @abhijeet_dipke @CPJAsia @IndexCensorship @globalfreemedia @mediadefence @thomsonreuters @openmarkets @AsiaSociety

📣 ANNOUNCEMENT !📣 We’re excited to announce our video series on ‘Protecting Press Freedom in India,’ in collaboration with @RSF_en. 🥁 From internet shutdowns and censorship to surveillance, device seizures, and targeted online abuse, journalists today are increasingly facing digital threats. ⚠️🗞️🛜 These threats often go unseen behind the headlines. To bring them into focus, we spoke with journalists across regions and platforms. 🚨 Each episode in the series shines a light on the realities of reporting in the digital age. Hear directly from the journalists, unfiltered and firsthand. 🎙️⚖️ The first video drops NEXT WEEK. Stay tuned!👀 #censorship #freespeech #pressfreedom #privacy @MnshaP @AbhinandanSekhr @geetaseshu @KhabarLahariya @EastMojo @kumar_86_amit @medianama @newslaundry @dhanyarajendran @sanket @Memeghnad @Aditi_muses @AroonDeep @PunsterX @ravish_journo @TheDeshBhakt @IFEX @amnesty @IFJGlobal @zoo_bear @IndexCensorship @PeekTV_in @Priyanshi50 @anishgawande @PunsterX @whattalawyer @sohitmishra99 @vsirnate @SauravDassss @theGNI @kalpana1947 @samzsays @MathewLiz @parthpunter @Article14live @reporters_co @Info_Activism

Students in Jammu & Kashmir faced serious hurdles in completing their NEET applications after mobile data, voice, and SMS services were suspended amid protests. With OTP-based verification required for exam registrations and online study platforms, many students risked missing crucial deadlines due to the connectivity restrictions. On 6 March 2026, SFLC.in wrote to the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, highlighting how internet shutdowns can disrupt students’ academic opportunities and urging immediate intervention. The letter requested alternative login mechanisms (such as email-based OTPs or offline registration centres) and deadline extensions for candidates in affected regions to ensure that students are not unfairly penalised. While the shutdown was lifted later the same day, the incident once again highlights how connectivity restrictions can have unintended consequences on students preparing for national-level competitive exams. #InternetShutdown #InternetShutdowns #KeepItOn #LetTheNetWork #AccessToInternet #DigitalRights #OnlineAccess #RightToInternet #InternetFreedom #ConnectivityMatters #DigitalAccess #AccessToInformation

👉Take a moment to think how an internet cutoff would affect the many aspects of your daily life. Here's a short explainer to shed light on the impact of an internet shutdown. Share your thoughts💭and join the conversation! @NetShutdowns #KeepItOn #LetTheNetWork #Manipur #India

The Biren Singh-led #Manipur government on Thursday decided to extend the mobile👉 #Internet ban across the state by five more days till November 13. india.com/news/manipur-viole…

What would be cost of global #Internetoutage just for a single day? According to new report if internet goes down globally for even just a single day it would cost 👉$43 billion with US & China making up almost half of sum together which is $21 billion. economictimes.indiatimes.com…

@SFLCin collects experiences of everyday folks to bring the ground reality to light. We have been tracking the instances of internet suspensions in India since 2012 at internetshutdowns.in #KeepItOn #LetTheNetWork #Manipur @NetShutdowns