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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

Civil society calls on Indian government to withdraw amendments to IT Rules

12 Jul 2022

Access Now joins a coalition of organizations in calling on the government of India to withdraw the amendments recently proposed to the IT Rules 2021.

Press Release
Civil society calls on Indian government to withdraw amendments to IT Rules
12 Jul 2022
Civil society calls on Indian government to withdraw amendments to IT Rules
Access Now theme

The Indian government’s overbroad Twitter takedown orders must be declared unconstitutional

6 Jul 2022

The court must declare authorities’ overbroad Twitter takedown orders as unconstitutional, and bring to light abuse of power online. 

Press Release
The Indian government’s overbroad Twitter takedown orders must be declared unconstitutional
6 Jul 2022
The Indian government’s overbroad Twitter takedown orders must be declared unconstitutional
Digital censorship

Indian CERT’s Directions will weaken cybersecurity and privacy: experts call for deferral and public consultation

27 Jun 2022

Access Now supports cybersecurity experts from around the world in calling on India’s CERT-In to defer implementation of the new April Directions.

Press Release
Indian CERT’s Directions will weaken cybersecurity and privacy: experts call for deferral and public consultation
27 Jun 2022
Indian CERT’s Directions will weaken cybersecurity and privacy: experts call for deferral and public consultation
GDPR

Access Now submission on the National Data Governance Framework Policy

20 Jun 2022
Publication
Access Now submission on the National Data Governance Framework Policy
20 Jun 2022
Access Now submission on the National Data Governance Framework Policy
spyware

End the impunity: police surveillance and hacking in India must be eradicated

17 Jun 2022

The Indian parliament and the judiciary must immediately initiate independent and transparent investigations into illegal hacking and surveillance. 

Press Release
End the impunity: police surveillance and hacking in India must be eradicated
17 Jun 2022
End the impunity: police surveillance and hacking in India must be eradicated
India fake news law

Indian IT Ministry’s amendments to the 2021 IT Rules: not enough to protect rights and freedoms

6 Jun 2022

Access Now is urgently calling on India’s MeitY to substantially amend the Rules, ensuring the rights of people across India are upheld.

Press Release
Indian IT Ministry’s amendments to the 2021 IT Rules: not enough to protect rights and freedoms
6 Jun 2022
Indian IT Ministry’s amendments to the 2021 IT Rules: not enough to protect rights and freedoms
Digital censorship

India’s CERT-In must withdraw April Directions and strengthen privacy and cybersecurity

1 Jun 2022

Access Now and a coalition of organisations and individuals are urging India’s CERT-In to withdraw the April Directions.

Press Release
India’s CERT-In must withdraw April Directions and strengthen privacy and cybersecurity
1 Jun 2022
India’s CERT-In must withdraw April Directions and strengthen privacy and cybersecurity
Telecoms and Internet Connectivity Gaza

Authorities, telcos in Sri Lanka must ensure internet access throughout crisis

3 May 2022

Access Now and a coalition of rights organizations are calling on Sri Lanka to maintain unfettered access to the internet throughout the ongoing crisis.

Press Release
Authorities, telcos in Sri Lanka must ensure internet access throughout crisis
3 May 2022
Authorities, telcos in Sri Lanka must ensure internet access throughout crisis
Australia’s Privacy Act

India’s Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill jeopardizes privacy — it must not be enforced

6 Apr 2022

The Parliament of India has passed the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill which will jeopardize privacy and expand the scope for surveillance — it must not be enforced.

Press Release
India’s Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill jeopardizes privacy — it must not be enforced
6 Apr 2022
India’s Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill jeopardizes privacy — it must not be enforced
Sierra Leone

The government must commit to ensuring access to an open internet and free social media in crisis-hit Sri Lanka

4 Apr 2022

Access Now calls upon authorities in Sri Lanka to commit to ensuring access to an open internet and free social media.

Press Release
The government must commit to ensuring access to an open internet and free social media in crisis-hit Sri Lanka
4 Apr 2022
The government must commit to ensuring access to an open internet and free social media in crisis-hit Sri Lanka