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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

India fake news law

Wikipedia blocked in Pakistan: government must end censorship expansion

8 Feb 2023

Pakistan blocked Wikipedia for not removing “sacrilegious” content. The government must cease its systematic expansion of control over online spaces.

Press Release
Wikipedia blocked in Pakistan: government must end censorship expansion
8 Feb 2023
Wikipedia blocked in Pakistan: government must end censorship expansion
India fake news law

IT Rules amendments: Indian government bids to tighten control over online content

27 Jan 2023

Access Now is alarmed by the Indian authorities’ new draft amendment to the IT Rules.

Press Release
IT Rules amendments: Indian government bids to tighten control over online content
27 Jan 2023
IT Rules amendments: Indian government bids to tighten control over online content
TikTok

Submission to the Indian government on the IT rules draft amendment 2023

25 Jan 2023

Access Now submits that the proposed amendment to IT Rules 2021 requires to be revisited, in respect of both process and substance.

Publication
Submission to the Indian government on the IT rules draft amendment 2023
25 Jan 2023
Submission to the Indian government on the IT rules draft amendment 2023
Access Now theme

Internet throttling in Bangladesh: government, telcos must #KeepItOn

12 Dec 2022

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition are demanding unfettered access to all people across Bangladesh at all times.

Press Release
Internet throttling in Bangladesh: government, telcos must #KeepItOn
12 Dec 2022
Internet throttling in Bangladesh: government, telcos must #KeepItOn
Access Now theme

Open letter: authorities and telecom providers in Bangladesh must maintain unhindered internet access for all

9 Dec 2022

The #KeepItOn coalition calls on public authorities and internet service providers in Bangladesh to not interfere with internet access.

Press Release
Open letter: authorities and telecom providers in Bangladesh must maintain unhindered internet access for all
9 Dec 2022
Open letter: authorities and telecom providers in Bangladesh must maintain unhindered internet access for all
Encryption and messaging services

Apple doesn’t poison privacy, takes action to embolden security

8 Dec 2022

Access Now supports Apple’s commitment to strengthening safety features and urges it to continue engaging with stakeholders to build further mechanisms. 

Press Release
Apple doesn’t poison privacy, takes action to embolden security
8 Dec 2022
Apple doesn’t poison privacy, takes action to embolden security
Australia’s Privacy Act

Access Now’s submission on Bangladesh’s Draft Data Protection Act

21 Sep 2022
Publication
Access Now’s submission on Bangladesh’s Draft Data Protection Act
21 Sep 2022
Access Now’s submission on Bangladesh’s Draft Data Protection Act
GDPR

No place for privacy in India as government withdraws Personal Data Protection Bill

3 Aug 2022

The government has withdrawn the Personal Data Protection Bill, which had been in the works for three years, slamming the brakes indefinitely on privacy safeguards in India.

Press Release
No place for privacy in India as government withdraws Personal Data Protection Bill
3 Aug 2022
No place for privacy in India as government withdraws Personal Data Protection Bill
Meta Human Rights

Meta must disclose India’s Human Rights Impact Assessment

29 Jul 2022

Access Now calls on Meta to follow up its Human Rights Impact Assessment with full disclosure on India and concrete action to address its impacts. 

Press Release
Meta must disclose India’s Human Rights Impact Assessment
29 Jul 2022
Meta must disclose India’s Human Rights Impact Assessment
Access Now theme

Free expression is not safe in India: government must not slash social media safe harbour protection

21 Jul 2022

The Indian government must commit to protecting free expression and maintaining safe harbour protection for social media platforms.

Press Release
Free expression is not safe in India: government must not slash social media safe harbour protection
21 Jul 2022
Free expression is not safe in India: government must not slash social media safe harbour protection