Posts
Investigating TLS blocking in India
- July 09, 2020
A study into Transport Layer Security (TLS)-based blocking by three popular Indian ISPs: ACT Fibernet, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio.
Read more →Towards Algorithmic Transparency
- July 06, 2020
This policy brief examines the issue of transparency as a key ethical component in the development, deployment, and use of Artificial Intelligence.
Read more →Response to the ‘Call for Comments’ on The Santa Clara Principles on Transparency and Accountability
- July 01, 2020
The Santa Clara Principles on Transparency and Accountability, proposed in 2018, provided a robust framework of transparency reporting for online companies dealing with user-generated content. In 2020, the framework underwent a period of consultation "to determine whether the Santa Clara Principles should be updated for the ever-changing content moderation landscape." In lieu of this, we presented our responses, which are in-line with our previous research and findings on transparency reporting of online companies, especially in context of the Indian digital space.
Read more →Remove misinformation, but be transparent please!
- June 29, 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic has seen an extensive proliferation of misinformation and misleading information on the internet - which in turn has highlighted a heightened need for online intermediaries to promptly and effectively deploy its content removal mechanisms. This blogpost examines how this necessity may affect the best practices of transparency reporting and obligations of accountability that these online intermediaries owe to their users, and formulates recommendations to allow preservation of information regarding Covid-19 related content removal, for future research.
Read more →Donald Trump is attacking the social media giants; here’s what India should do differently
- June 25, 2020
For a robust and rights-respecting public sphere, India needs to ensure that large social media platforms receive adequate protections, and are made more responsible to its users.
Read more →Cryptocurrencies in India get a second wind
- June 19, 2020
An analysis of the Supreme Court judgment cryptocurrency judgment.
Read more →The debate over internet governance and cyber crimes: West vs the rest?
- June 08, 2020
The post looks at the two models proposed for internet governance and the role of cyber crimes in shaping the debate. In this context, it will also critically analyze the Budapest Convention (the “convention”) and the recently proposed Russian Resolution (the “resolution”), and the strategies adopted in each to deal with the menace of cybercrimes. It will also briefly discuss India’s stances on these issues.
Read more →Freedom of Expression in India: Key Research and Findings
- June 02, 2020
Over the last two years, CIS has carried out critical research on the issue of freedom of expression in India. We have continued our work on intermediary liability, as well as expanded our expertise to emerging areas, like online extreme speech. Researchers have also closely tracked developments around internet shutdowns, and the impact of social media and data on democratic processes in the country.
Read more →Essay: Watching Corona or Neighbours? - Introducing ‘Lateral Surveillance’ during COVID-19
- May 21, 2020
Surveillance is already suspected to have become the ‘new normal’ considering the extensive amounts of money that is being invested by governments around the globe. The only way out of this pandemic is to take a humane approach to surveillance wherein the discriminatory tendencies of the people while spreading information about those infected are factored in to prevent excessive harm.
Read more →Rumours, Misinformation and Self-Verification of Facts in the Age of COVID-19
- April 21, 2020
Efforts taken by the government or social media platforms can only be realised if an individual asks herself -- 'what can I do to verify this piece of information'?
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