Methodology X
The free speech tracker is envisioned to be a crowd sourced initiative where citizens come together to report instances of free speech violations of both the online and offline world. We are aware that this means that our data can be incomplete, as any instance that is not reported in news, or that is reported only in regional news may slip undetected by us. To increase the accuracy of the data on this tracker, to supplement news reports and to make corrections in the data, we rely on people like you to supply us with information about free speech violations preferably with some link(s) to news reports of the violation.
The initial set of database is collected through media reports, court archives and through court proceedings. We have also filed many Right to information applications to get information from the government on issues such as website blocking. The existing data is verified and linked to sources. We believe that the tracker is work in progress and encourage citizens to report instances of free speech violations through the reporting links provided. We verify each entry that is submitted to our portal and link it to a verified source. Please write to us at mail@sflc.in with any suggestions/comments or invitations to collaborations that you may have.
The initial set of database is collected through media reports, court archives and through court proceedings. We have also filed many Right to information applications to get information from the government on issues such as website blocking. The existing data is verified and linked to sources. We believe that the tracker is work in progress and encourage citizens to report instances of free speech violations through the reporting links provided. We verify each entry that is submitted to our portal and link it to a verified source. Please write to us at mail@sflc.in with any suggestions/comments or invitations to collaborations that you may have.
What is Article 19 ? X
19. Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech etc
(1) All citizens shall have the right
(a) to freedom of speech and expression;
(b) to assemble peaceably and without arms;
(c) to form associations or unions;
(d) to move freely throughout the territory of India;
(e) to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; and
(f) omitted
(g) to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business
(2) Nothing in sub clause (a) of clause ( 1 ) shall affect the operation of any existing law, or prevent the State from making any law, in so far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub clause in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence
(3) Nothing in sub clause (b) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India or public order, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub clause
(4) Nothing in sub clause (c) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India or public order or morality, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub clause
(5) Nothing in sub clauses (d) and (e) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of any of the rights conferred by the said sub clauses either in the interests of the general public or for the protection of the interests of any Scheduled Tribe
(6) Nothing in sub clause (g) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, in the interests of the general public, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub clause, and, in particular, nothing in the said sub clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it relates to, or prevent the State from making any law relating to,
(i) the professional or technical qualifications necessary for practising any profession or carrying on any occupation, trade or business, or
(ii) the carrying on by the State, or by a corporation owned or controlled by the State, of any trade, business, industry or service, whether to the exclusion, complete or partial, of citizens or otherwise
(1) All citizens shall have the right
(a) to freedom of speech and expression;
(b) to assemble peaceably and without arms;
(c) to form associations or unions;
(d) to move freely throughout the territory of India;
(e) to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; and
(f) omitted
(g) to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business
(2) Nothing in sub clause (a) of clause ( 1 ) shall affect the operation of any existing law, or prevent the State from making any law, in so far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub clause in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence
(3) Nothing in sub clause (b) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India or public order, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub clause
(4) Nothing in sub clause (c) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India or public order or morality, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub clause
(5) Nothing in sub clauses (d) and (e) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of any of the rights conferred by the said sub clauses either in the interests of the general public or for the protection of the interests of any Scheduled Tribe
(6) Nothing in sub clause (g) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, in the interests of the general public, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub clause, and, in particular, nothing in the said sub clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it relates to, or prevent the State from making any law relating to,
(i) the professional or technical qualifications necessary for practising any profession or carrying on any occupation, trade or business, or
(ii) the carrying on by the State, or by a corporation owned or controlled by the State, of any trade, business, industry or service, whether to the exclusion, complete or partial, of citizens or otherwise
Free Speech Tracker
The Free Speech Tracker is a crowd-sourced research project developed by SFLC.in to track the instances of free speech violations and the laws governing free speech in India. The tracker entails publicly available data collected by volunteers with SFLC.in via various sources including news sources, court orders etc. as well as by crowd-sourcing information from the public at large and verifying it. The aim of this project is to ignite conversations around the status of free speech in India. You can read more about it in our FAQ section. The data collated under this project is not exhaustive and we urge citizens to use the reporting buttons to tell us what we have missed. We would also like to hear from you, please feel free to write to us at mail@sflc.in with any comments/suggestions/invitations for collaborations that you may have.
Legislations
Judgements
Sub-judice cases
Website Blocking
Ban on Books
Art Censorship
Gag Orders
Intermediary Liability
Restrictive social media policies