Freedom of Expression and Intermediary Liability

For a decade and a half, CIS has been engaging with the government and private bodies on laws, regulations, and policies that moderate or and govern the freedom of speech and expression on the internet. CIS has produced a diverse and rich body of work that critically analyses state and private regulation of online communities and studies the impact of their decisions on individuals and at-risk communities. Recommendations from this research, which have included both academic papers and publications at reputable media venues, have urged reforms in the existing framework of cyber laws and India and the private decision-making done by online companies, in close compliance with the constitutional values espoused in the Indian Constitution. This research has also informed international consensus-building on these issues. CIS has been on the Steering Committee for the creation of the Manila Principles on Intermediary Liability, and has provided consultative comments for the Santa Clara Principles on Transparency and Accountability in Content Moderation. CIS continues to work on projects relating to censorship, access, and the impact of free speech regulation on diverse communities in the country.