When the Watchdogs Are Silenced: India's Crackdown on Those Documenting Online Censorship
Indian authorities have issued takedown requests targeting 42 URLs, including those of digital rights organizations SFLC.in and the Internet Freedom Foundation, which document online censorship.
On November 3, digital rights organizations in India received notifications from X indicating that the Delhi Police had issued takedown requests targeting 42 URLs. Among the accounts and posts affected were those belonging to SFLC.in, the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), and the X account @geoblockedindia, as well as posts documenting legal notices and instances of online censorship.
These requests cite grounds including hate speech, alleged defamation of the Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and concerns relating to safety and security. However, the context is particularly troubling as the targets are organizations and individuals whose work involves documenting restrictions on online expression and making those restrictions visible to the public.
Documentation vs. undermining safety
SFLC.in is one of India's most important digital rights organizations, promoting innovation and open access to knowledge while protecting privacy and civil liberties. In 2025, they received an EFF Award for Defending Digital Freedoms. The IFF, another close ally of EFF in India, combines advocacy campaigns and strategic litigation to advance digital rights, frequently writing about internet shutdowns and filing lawsuits contesting them.
But documenting government censorship is not the same as undermining public safety. Reporting that content has been restricted is not an endorsement of that content, nor does it constitute an attempt to circumvent the law.
Among SFLC.in's initiatives is its Free Speech Tracker, which documents instances of online censorship, content restrictions, and account takedowns in India. Recent legal notices object to the tracker itself and the organization's documentation of restricted content. The allegations claim SFLC.in is "continuously opposing government directions" and circulating information about restricted content, thereby undermining national security and public order measures.
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