66A Plus

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I have to admit that today’s landmark decision by the Supreme Court of India shocked me, but in a good way. Article 66A of India’s Information Technology Act 2008 seemed to have been written by the editors of The Onion. The language was so broad that everyone up to and including the neighbour’s cat could have lodged a complaint for anything published online. But make no mistake. I am thrilled with a capital T that the Court has struck down this foolishness.

Eighteen months ago I had the honour of interviewing some of India’s most insightful lawyers on the dangers of 66A, amongst other things. Their comments on free speech and where the country is headed online are instructive. These folks also have opinions about anonymity, surveillance and privacy. Moving forward, India is in for some very interesting times, online and off.

Have a gander at what three of the India’s leading experts have to say.