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Namrata Maheshwari

Senior Policy Counsel and Encryption Policy Lead

Namrata Maheshwari serves as Senior Policy Counsel and Encryption Policy Lead at Access Now. She leads Access Now's policy and advocacy work across South Asia. She also leads the organization's work on encryption policy globally. Previously, she worked with the Center for Democracy & Technology as a Consultant, primarily on the Freedom, Security, and Technology Project. Namrata is an India-qualified lawyer, enrolled with the bar council. She completed her LL.M. from Columbia Law School as a Stone Scholar, with a focus on technology policy and digital governance. Prior to that, she received her law degree from Jindal Global Law School with a scholarship for outstanding women. In the past, she has worked at a premiere corporate law firm in India, and as a litigator before Indian courts
Global encryption day 2023

Submission to eSafety Commissioner, Australia on the draft Online Safety Industry Standards

22 Dec 2023

Access Now recommends eSafety Office against mandating online communication services, as well as file storage and cloud services, to proactively detect content on their platforms.

Publication
Submission to eSafety Commissioner, Australia on the draft Online Safety Industry Standards
22 Dec 2023
Submission to eSafety Commissioner, Australia on the draft Online Safety Industry Standards
India’s Telecommunications Bill, 2023 threatens open, secure, and unhindered internet access.

Indian government must withdraw the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, to protect fundamental rights

21 Dec 2023

International group of organisations and experts urge DoT, India to withdraw the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, and protect fundamental rights

Press Release
Indian government must withdraw the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, to protect fundamental rights
21 Dec 2023
Indian government must withdraw the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, to protect fundamental rights
Global encryption day 2023

These safety standards lack safeguards: Australia must protect encryption

20 Dec 2023

Through an open letter, over 600 signatories are urging the eSafety Commissioner to introduce safeguards fo encrypted services in the Online Safety Codes.

Press Release
These safety standards lack safeguards: Australia must protect encryption
20 Dec 2023
These safety standards lack safeguards: Australia must protect encryption
India’s Telecommunications Bill, 2023 threatens open, secure, and unhindered internet access.

India’s rushed telco bill must be amended to protect human rights 

18 Dec 2023

India’s Telecommunications Bill, 2023 threatens open, secure, and unhindered internet access.

Press Release
India’s rushed telco bill must be amended to protect human rights 
18 Dec 2023
India’s rushed telco bill must be amended to protect human rights 
Focused View

Slipping down the authoritarian hole: Nepal must lift the TikTok ban

16 Nov 2023

Nepal must reverse its ban on TikTok and publish recent directives for social media platforms.

Press Release
Slipping down the authoritarian hole: Nepal must lift the TikTok ban
16 Nov 2023
Slipping down the authoritarian hole: Nepal must lift the TikTok ban
India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Bill passed: “it’s a bad law”

Submission on Bangladesh’s draft Data Protection Act, 2023

3 Nov 2023

Access Now and Tech Global Institute’s submission on Bangladesh’s latest draft of the Data Protection Act, 2023.

Publication
Submission on Bangladesh’s draft Data Protection Act, 2023
3 Nov 2023
Submission on Bangladesh’s draft Data Protection Act, 2023
Net Neutrality

Open letter: no discriminatory fees or licensing; TRAI must uphold net neutrality

23 Oct 2023

Civil society organizations and experts urge TRAI to uphold net neutrality in India

Press Release
Open letter: no discriminatory fees or licensing; TRAI must uphold net neutrality
23 Oct 2023
Open letter: no discriminatory fees or licensing; TRAI must uphold net neutrality
Global encryption day 2023

Joint letter: the Australian government must incorporate safeguards for encryption in the online safety codes

21 Oct 2023

The Australian government must incorporate safeguards for end-to-end encryption in the online safety codes.

Press Release
Joint letter: the Australian government must incorporate safeguards for encryption in the online safety codes
21 Oct 2023
Joint letter: the Australian government must incorporate safeguards for encryption in the online safety codes
India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Bill passed: “it’s a bad law”

Australia inching towards needed privacy reforms, yet encryption at risk

28 Sep 2023

Access Now urges the Australian government to develop draft legislation on privacy-impacting obligations and ensuring safeguards for encryption. 

Press Release
Australia inching towards needed privacy reforms, yet encryption at risk
28 Sep 2023
Australia inching towards needed privacy reforms, yet encryption at risk
Togolaises élections

India’s G20 opportunity: Internet shutdowns hamper Digital India promise – it’s time to commit to ending them

7 Sep 2023
News
India’s G20 opportunity: Internet shutdowns hamper Digital India promise – it’s time to commit to ending them
The Indian Express ↗
7 Sep 2023
India’s G20 opportunity: Internet shutdowns hamper Digital India promise – it’s time to commit to ending them