IGF 2024 Lightning Talk #133 Community-building for lawyers against online harms

    Software Freedom Law Center, India (SFLC.in)
    Mr. Arjun Adrian DSouza, Legal Counsel, SFLC.in - Speaker
    Ms. Tejaswini Singh, Community Manager, SFLC.in - Onsite Moderator

    Speakers

    Mr. Arjun Adrian DSouza, Legal Counsel, SFLC.in, India
    Ms. Tejaswini Singh, Community Manager, SFLC.in - Onsite Moderator

    Onsite Moderator

    Mr. Arjun Adrian DSouza

    Rapporteur

    Mr. Arjun Adrian DSouza

    SDGs

    16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions


    Targets: Access to justice remains a key aspect for any country today. The Digital Defenders Network addresses several obstacles to access to justice faced by marginalised sections of society: DDN lawyers provide pro-bono legal advice; virtual nature of the DDN hastens collaboration; DDN helpline provides citizens a platform to raise grievances being faced; input from academics, researchers and technologists provides holistic response to unique cyber-related harms; lawyers belonging to particular jurisdictions are more aware of the unique requirements of that jurisdiction; virtual functioning of DDN facilitates easy collaboration and efforts.

    Format

    The session will begin with a description of the Digital Defenders Network, an overview of the key principles underlining the Network and the overall mission sought to be achieved-defending online freedoms for citizens. Thereafter, an examination of the functioning of the Network will be undertaken, including a discussion on the importance of training sessions, and approach towards community-building for effective legal redressal of online harms.

    Questions from the audience will be taken and answered towards the end.

    Duration (minutes)
    20
    Description

    Online harms are ever-present and increasing. Being jurisdiction-agnostic, there arises a need to ensure that legal redressal of online harms takes place quickly and effectively. The Digital Defenders Network (DDN) was borne out of such a requirement and facilitates collective action through legal redressal of online harms. Justice need not suffer due to demographic or logistical problems. DDN functions as a pro-bono, virtual community of lawyers spread across each state of India working towards the defence of digital freedoms for citizens. DDN hastens legal redressal by collectivizing action and knowledge exchange between lawyers, academics, technologists and researchers. The lawyers undertake legal intervention through cases/complaints before courts and authorities in their respective states. In order to effectively carry out their duties, SFLC.in provides the lawyers comprehensive training through online sessions on pertinent issues such as data protection and privacy, intermediary liability frameworks, tackling OGBV, and internet shutdowns. Members of the DDN collaborate on advocacy efforts, research initiatives and legal interventions to ensure that online harms peculiar to their jurisdictions are being recognised and addressed through collective action.

    The success of the DDN was witnessed in the case of SFLC.in vs State of Jharkhand (WP(C) 3947/2022) filed by a DDN lawyer wherein the High Court of Jharkhand passed directions to ensure that imposition of internet shutdowns in the state were proportionate and lawful. The Digital Defenders Network can be replicable across jurisdictions and countries.




    Onsite participation.