SFLC.in's RightsLine Expands Local Legal Support to 75 cities

2026-08-16 07:22:42 Legal / Law

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Delhi, 14 August 2026: Delhi-based legal not-for-profit organisation Software Freedom Law Center, India (SFLC.in) today said that RightsLine, its free 24X7 nationwide digital rights helpline has expanded local legal counsel and support to aggrieved citizens in 75 cities across India.

This expansion of locally available and free (pro-bono) support is enabled by 'Digital Defenders Network (DDN)', SFLC.in's pan-India network of trained lawyers accessible to all ordinary citizens regardless of their age, occupation, gender or economic status.

The availability of local legal support means that aggrieved citizens facing any kinds of digital rights violations, from digital arrest scams or UPI frauds to wrongful account suspensions, can now take free and timely legal advice on how to take action for restoration of their rights and/or stolen money.

All lawyers that are part of Digital Defenders Network are trained by SFLC.in and are equipped to provide specialised and pro-bono legal assistance on digital rights violations within their respective jurisdictions. For citizens, including local content creators and journalists, this means easy access to a trained lawyer who understands their local language, courts and processes. The network currently comprises more than 75+ trained lawyers deployed across India. Lawyers interested in specialising in digital rights and serving pro-bono can apply to SFLC.in to join this network.

The expansion comes amid a sharp rise in cybercrime across India. In 2025, Indians lost an estimated ₹22,495 crore to cyber fraud, while digital arrest scams alone accounted for more than 30,000 complaints.

Since its launch in September 2025, RightsLine has received over 300+ reports, 65 reports, spanning 10 categories of violations.

“RightsLine was created to ensure that people facing digital harm are not left to navigate complex legal processes on their own. Expanding the Digital Defenders Network to 75 cities is a significant step towards making specialised, pro bono legal assistance available for a wide range of technology related issues, from online scams, cyber frauds and harassment to privacy violations and content disputes across India. Strengthening the network of lawyers ensures that meaningful legal remedies are available regardless of location, " said Mishi Choudhary, Founder of SFLC.in.

In addition to financial fraud, RightsLine is seeing a growing number of cases involving content takedowns, social media account suspensions, shadow banning and online harassment, highlighting the increasing need for accessible legal support across a broader range of digital rights issues, that can help citizens understand what happened to their content or account,; navigate platform grievance and appeals processes ; and identify the immediate next legal and practical steps available.RightsLine supports individuals facing a wide range of digital rights violations, including digital arrest scams, phishing and UPI fraud, content takedowns, social media account suspensions, seizure of electronic devices, online gender-based violence and internet shutdowns. Depending on the nature of the case, users may be connected with Digital Defenders for legal advice and representation in their respective cities.

SFLC.in is continually expanding the Digital Defenders Network through specialised training cohorts, extending access to digital rights legal support to even more communities across the country.

ABOUT SFLC.in

SFLC.in is a donor-supported legal services organization that has united lawyers, policy analysts, technologists, business professionals, students, and citizens to protect freedom in the digital world since 2010. In discussions of technology where Industry and Governments have representations, we endeavor to present the rights of Indian citizens. We fight the good fight in keeping the Internet open, secure, and safe for all.

Our objective is to help Indian policymakers make informed and just decisions in the use and adoption of technology for the production of pro-humanity IT. We promote innovation and open access to knowledge by helping developers make great Free and Open Source Software, protecting citizens' privacy and civil liberties in the digital world. This is achieved through education, original research, policy engagement, and the provision of free legal services.

We will continue our fight to defend the digital rights of citizens and look forward to your support. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.