What are you voting for? 

Sometimes, we find that our government slips up on this legitimate expectation. Their interests may misalign with ours – as can be seen from the wide array of flawed or underdeveloped tech-policy regulatory developments that have been enacted in the last few years. But our demands for rights-centric legislation and good governance must not stop. As "Digital Nagriks", a title endowed upon citizens of a “Digital India” by the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, we must continue to participate in our democracy and hold our governments accountable for the protection, preservation, and advancement of our constitutionally guaranteed digital rights.

We, at IFF, noted the absence of a clearly articulated message or political charter of demands surrounding the use of digital technologies in India. Following from this learning, we read through the 2024 manifestos released by the BJP, INC, DMK, and CPI(M) and identified all their digital rights adjacent electoral guarantees. 


Coming up: We are soon going to be releasing an analysis of how each party’s guarantees have fared against our 7 point agenda.


  • Link to full party manifesto

  • Protection against Cyber threats, will create a suite of public cybersecurity products to help small traders and MSMEs protect themselves against the cyber threats and frauds.

  • Commitment to sharing technology with partner nations, elevating Bharat's digital public infrastructure globally.

  • Will take further steps towards strengthening Bharat's digital sovereignty and will take stringent action against digital entities that threaten the safety of Bharatiya on the internet.

  • To expand the 5G networks and take the lead in the development of 6G technology.

  • Building on the success of the above digital learning initiatives, we will operationalize a digital university for industry-focused free courses to provide upskilling opportunities for low-income families.

  • To introduce the Police Modernization Scheme to equip the Police forces with latest technologies and provide required training.

  • Completing 100% implementation of “One Nation, One Student ID” through the automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR)

  • Strengthening social security systems through digitization and digital India network to facilitate easy enrollment for the schemes and seamless payment.

  • Providing comprehensive training to senior citizens in using UPI and other online payment methods, while increasing awareness about online scams.

  • Scrapping the mandatory use of Aadhaar and biometrics for all social welfare schemes.

  • A full-fledged review and revision of the three Criminal Codes to eliminate anti-democratic provisions and enhancement of police powers; protect the right to dissent.

  • To Repeal the Telecommunications Bill, 2023; reversing pro-private telecom policies to encourage telecom and internet penetration in rural and remote areas via public sector; strengthening public sector telecom companies BSNL and MTNL by guaranteeing a level playing field and rapid roll-out of 4G and 5G services. Ensuring the right to internet; developing national self-reliance in communication equipment manufacturing.

  • To de-militarisation of cyber-space; protection from cyber-attacks and phishing; protection of the privacy of all individuals and prevention of snooping and surveillance over individuals.

  • To Regulate AI, genetic engineering, data-mining and IT-based surveillance so as to ensure public good.

  • Promote free and open source software (FOSS) and other new technologies, free from monopoly ownership through copyrights or patents; “knowledge commons” to be promoted across disciplines eg like biotechnology, AI and drug discovery.

  • Steps to control the spread of fake news and act on those groups and individuals promoting fake news

  • The 2021 amendments to the IT Rules will be withdrawn and the draft Registration of Press and Periodicals Bill, 2022, will be reviewed; the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 replacing the Cable Television Networks (Regulation Act), will not be considered.
  • A common Media Council for print, electronic and digital media will be set up, with representatives from the media, media unions and independent public persons; a Media Commission will be established to study the deplorable working conditions of journalists and the new trends in the media since the onset of globalization.

  • To strengthen the Right to Information Act and establishing institutionalized mechanisms for citizens to participate in all aspects of decision making in governance; implementing Section 4 of the RTI Act, for a transparent and participatory pre-legislative process soliciting citizen feedback before laws are passed.

  • To scrap the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023), which is meant to cement digital authoritarianism by giving State agencies broad powers of surveillance over citizens and also big businesses a free hand to use citizens‟ data for their own profits.

  • To introduce new legislation to give a proper justiciable framework for the Supreme Court's Puttuswamy judgement on privacy as a fundamental right; also enact new legislation to create an independent constitutional authority to oversee violations by government as well as private businesses of citizens‟ right to privacy.
  • To strengthen the Competition Commission of India to be able to effectively curb and regulate the power of telecom and digital monopolies.
  • To roll back the draconian provisions of the Telecommunication Act 2023 related to surveillance and interception, internet shutdowns, weakening of encrypted services, and KYC requirements of social media users.
  • To roll back the draconian IT Amendment Rules (2023) which grants the government total censorship powers by providing for the establishment of a fact check unit, established at the sole discretion of the Union government, and aimed at attacking online criticism.
  • To regulate the dominance of big tech companies like Amazon, Facebook, and Google in the fin-tech sector while maintaining data sovereignty.
  • To recognise digital infrastructure as public infrastructure for “public good”.
  •  Will provide mission-mode R&D funding for AI, Internet of Things (IoT), bio and nano-technology.


  • National e-Governance Program to establish complete computerized administration in all villages.

  • Free Wi-Fi services will be provided in all important locations state-wide

  • Based on the judgments of the case Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) vs Union of India (2017 and 2019), where digital privacy was declared a fundamental right, amendments will be made in the sections related to privacy under the Internet Data Protection Act to include digital rights as fundamental human rights.

  • Section 124 of the IPC, which suppresses the freedom of speech, will be removed.

  • Review the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and remove the provisions that restrict freedom of speech and expression and that violate the right to privacy.

  • We promise to review all laws that interfere with the right to privacy and make suitable amendments to various laws to uphold the right to privacy.

  • Self-regulation is the best way to correct the misuse of the media. Congress will amend the Press Council of India Act, 1978 to strengthen the system of self-regulation, protect journalistic freedoms, uphold editorial independence and guard against government interference.

  • Amendment to the Press Council of India Act, 1978 to empower the Council to deal with the menace of fake news and paid news.

  • Congress will restrict the powers of the government for surveillance of journalists, seizure of their devices and exposure of their sources for independent journalism.

  • Congress will pass a law to curb monopolies in the media, cross-ownership of different segments of the media, and control of the media by business organisations. Congress will refer cases of suspected monopolies to the Competition Commission of India.

  • Congress will pass a law to preserve the freedom of the Internet and to prevent arbitrary and frequeNT shutdowns of the Internet

  • Laws like, the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023; Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023; Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, etc.) give unbridled powers of censorship to the government. The first named Bill will be withdrawn. The restrictive provisions of the two Acts will be amended or deleted to eliminate backdoor censorship.

  • To amend Cinematograph Act 1952 for transparent reasonable grading by the central board of Film Certification.

  • Promise to restore freedom of speech and expression including full freedom of th media.

  • To review the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and remove the provisions that restrict freedom of speech and expression and that violate the right to privacy.

  • Promise to review all laws that interfere with the right to privacy and make suitable amendments to various laws to uphold the right to privacy.


  • Link to full party manifesto

  • Bengal’s cutting-edge E-governance efforts will be further strengthened. TMC will further enhance the state’s e-governance initiatives, pioneering greater digital citizen participation across the length and breadth of governance services.

  • Real-time information management systems, and online feedback mechanisms ensures all relevant information related to the Government’s progress across its various programs, schemes, and implementations is accessible to citizens 24x7. Will extend this cutting-edge service to more people in the state.

  • TMC will ensure India’s citizens are safeguarded from personal data breaches, undue surveillance, and denial of their digital rights.

  • We will introduce a new Digital Liberties Bill in Parliament to safeguard the digital rights of citizens through:

  • New regulations to bolster the security provisions for the collection, storage, and fair use of the personal data of citizens by Government agencies, businesses, and other entities.

  • New regulations to outlaw the misuse of surveillance technologies to spy on private citizens, media, or politicians.

  • A well-defined set of regulations and protocols to prevent unilateral imposition of internet shutdowns.

  • Digital Sahayata Kendras will be set up all over India. TMC will ensure online public services are also within easy reach of all citizens.

  • We will introduce a bill in Parliament to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 with provisions to integrate evidence-based technology through fool-proof IT security systems to ensure comprehensive electronic surveillance of the various procedures involved.

  • We will introduce a new policy to provide dedicated measures to provide social security, and credit access, and manage the rights of workers in India’s gig workforce. The key components of this policy will be: A Gig Workers’ Welfare Board to register workers, facilitate the provision of benefits, and mediate disputes between workers and platforms.

  • Tablets/smartphones will be provided as an educational aid to students. TMC will affordably promote digital literacy for Bengal’s students.

  • Through a grant of ₹10,000 per pupil under the Taruner Swapno scheme, we will enable students to purchase tablets/smartphones for digital learning and access toonline study materials.

Disclaimer: This table includes direct quotes from the manifestos of the 5 parties mentioned below. Please note that not all technology adjacent electoral guarantees have been added to this table as its scope is limited to the 7 demands on technology and human rights that we listed in our 7 point agenda. Thus, only the guarantees/ promises which align with the digital rights demands made in our agenda have been included in the table below. A more comprehensive analysis and commentary on all the technology related election guarantees of these 5 parties will be released soon.
Internet Freedom Foundation