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{{Short description|Indian lawyer and digital rights activist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Apar Gupta
| image = Apar-Gupta.webp
| alma_mater = Amity Law School, Columbia Law School
| occupation = Lawyer, Writer
| awards = Ashoka Fellowship
}}

'''Apar Gupta''' is a lawyer, founder and writer on democracy and technology from India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-07 |title=Rhodes scholar to Carnatic singer, meet 4 young lawyers in privacy fight |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rhodes-scholar-to-carnatic-singer-meet-4-young-lawyers-in-privacy-fight-4785544/ |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> In 2019 he was elected as an Ashoka Fellow for, "creating a model for digital rights advocacy in the country that is driven by the public, for the public," as the co-founder of the [[Internet Freedom Foundation]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apar Gupta {{!}} Ashoka {{!}} Everyone a Changemaker |url=https://www.ashoka.org/en-us/fellow/apar-gupta |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=www.ashoka.org |language=en-us}}</ref>

== Education ==

Gupta was born and raised in New Delhi, India. He attended [[Mount St Mary's School (New Delhi)|Mount St Mary's School]], obtained his B.A. (LLB) (Hons) degree from Amity Law School, and a postgraduate degree from the [[Columbia Law School|Columbia University School of Law]].<ref name="education">{{cite web|title=India's Justice League: Young Guns Behind The Right to Privacy Win|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/right-to-privacy-verdict-people-behind-the-movement|access-date=July 8, 2020|website=thequint.com|date=24 August 2017|publisher=The Quint}}</ref>

== Law Practice ==

Gupta started out as a commercial litigator at Karanjawala & Co., and later merged his own firm Accendo Law Partners with Advani & Co. in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chauhan |first=Neha |title=Bombay's Advani & Co merges with Delhi start-up Accendo, aims for multiple best friends |url=https://www.legallyindia.com/law-firms/bombays-advani-a-co-merges-with-delhi-start-up-accendo-aims-for-multiple-best-friends-20110603-2130 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=www.legallyindia.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> He was included in the [[Forbes India]] [[Forbes 30 Under 30|30 under 30]] list in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forbes India – Apar Gupta: Emerging Voice In Media Laws |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/30-under-30/apar-gupta-emerging-voice-in-media-laws/37171/1 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Forbes India |language=en}}</ref>

Gupta resigned in 2015 to start his own law chamber<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saluja |first=Pallavi |title=Advani & Co Partner, Forbes India's 30 under 30 Apar Gupta resigns to go independent |url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/advani-co-partner-forbes-indias-30-under-30-apar-gupta |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Bar and Bench – Indian Legal news |date=10 March 2015 |language=en}}</ref> where he represented parties in notable civil liberties and constitutional cases that have digital or technology issues including [[Shreya Singhal v. Union of India]] (Section 66A),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shrivastava |first=Prachi |date=2015-03-30 |title=Behind the scenes of the fight against Section 66A |url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/VDznbaFeNxSGnLfrYwOBcM/Behind-the-scenes-of-the-fight-against-Section-66A.html |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref> [[Subramanian Swamy|Subramanium Swamy]] v. Union of India ([[criminal defamation]]),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shrivastava |first=Prachi |title=5 lawyers, 10+ hacks file SC criminal defamation & journo rights challenge wider than Swamy's [READ ORDER] |url=https://www.legallyindia.com/the-bench-and-the-bar/5-lawyers-criminal-defamation-challenge-supreme-court-20150709-6258 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=www.legallyindia.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> Gaurav Sureshbhai Vyas v. State of Gujarat (Internet Shutdowns),<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rautray |first=Samanwaya |title=State, DM can ban mobile internet to maintain law: Supreme Court |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/state-dm-can-ban-mobile-internet-to-maintain-law-supreme-court/articleshow/50954378.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2022-05-25}}</ref> Justice Puttaswamy v. Union of India ([[Right to Privacy verdict|Right to Privacy]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-07 |title=Rhodes scholar to Carnatic singer, meet 4 young lawyers in privacy fight |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rhodes-scholar-to-carnatic-singer-meet-4-young-lawyers-in-privacy-fight-4785544/ |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> and [[Aadhaar Act, 2016|Aadhaar]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-28 |title=Message from a verdict |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/message-from-a-verdict-aadhaar-verdict-supreme-court-5377388/ |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>), PUCL v. Union of India ([[Surveillance]] Reforms),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Going Beyond Telephone tapping to Electronic Communication Surveillance: What are the safeguards for citizens? {{!}} PUCL |url=https://www.pucl.org/press-statements/going-beyond-telephone-tapping-electronic-communication-surveillance-what-are |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=www.pucl.org |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404024209/https://www.pucl.org/press-statements/going-beyond-telephone-tapping-electronic-communication-surveillance-what-are |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Anuradha Bhasin]] v. Union of India [[Internet shutdown in Jammu and Kashmir|(Internet Shutdowns]]),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-04-09 |title=Supreme Court Hears PIL on Restoration of 4G Internet in J&K |url=https://lexinsider.com/supreme-court-hears-pil-on-restoration-of-4g-internet-in-jk/ |access-date=2022-04-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Indian Kanoon]] v. Karthik Theodore ([[Right to be forgotten|Right to be Forgotten]])<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-25 |title=Top court to address right to be forgotten in judicial orders |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/top-court-to-address-right-to-be-forgotten-in-judicial-orders-101721878221078.html |access-date=2026-04-20 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Choudhury |first=Ritwik |date=2026-02-06 |title=Can persons discharged from criminal case seek deletion of past news reports? Supreme Court to examine |url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/can-persons-discharged-from-criminal-case-seek-deletion-of-past-news-reports-supreme-court-to-examine |access-date=2026-04-20 |website=Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news |language=en}}</ref> and [[X Corp.]] v. Union of India (Sahyog Censorship Portal).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pandey |first=Kamya |date=2025-06-26 |title=DigiPub to Join X's Lawsuit Against Sahyog Portal |url=https://www.medianama.com/2025/06/223-digipub-newslaundry-x-legal-battle-against-sahyog-portal/ |access-date=2026-04-20 |website=MEDIANAMA |language=en-US}}</ref>

He has represented the India Chapter of [[Fridays For Future|Friday's for Future]] when their website was blocked under terrorism charges.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Citing Anti-Terror Law, Delhi Police Block Global Youth Climate Activism Website |url=https://thewire.in/environment/fridays-for-future-website-block-eia-prakash-javadekar-uapa |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=The Wire}}</ref> His representations for journalists include [[Paranjoy Guha Thakurta]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-26 |title=Paranjoy Guha Thakurta not liable to follow gag order on Adani reports till further order: Court |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/paranjoy-guha-thakurta-not-liable-to-follow-gag-order-on-adani-reports-till-further-order-court-10271762/ |access-date=2026-04-20 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> and [[Sucheta Dalal]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sucheta Dalal Moves Court Against Ban on Reporting Sterling Biotech Fraud Case |url=https://dailypioneer.com/news/sucheta-dalal-moves-delhi-court-against-ban-on-media-reports-linked-to-sandesara |access-date=2026-04-20 |website=dailypioneer.com |language=en}}</ref> against large corporations in cases of defamation. In April 2026, he was a counsel in a case in which the Delhi High Court directed the restoration of a political satirist's suspended social media account.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-06 |title=Delhi HC orders restoration of two X accounts, permits temporary blocking of ‘objectionable posts’ |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/legal-news/delhi-hc-restore-x-accounts-drnimoyadav-nher-meity-blocking-order-10622060/ |access-date=2026-04-20 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

== Digital Rights Advocacy ==
He is a co-founder of the [[SaveTheInternet.in]] campaign on [[Net neutrality in India|net neutrality]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=Ashish K. |date=2015-05-09 |title=India's Net neutrality crusaders |url=https://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/FJQWrDereqsC3zGIEspGqI/The-people-who-want-to-save-the-Internet.html |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref> and SaveOurPrivacy.in campaign for data protection and surveillance reforms.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-08 |title=Citizens' draft law on data privacy to be unveiled today |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/citizens-draft-law-on-data-privacy-to-be-unveiled-5208914/ |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> After his work on the Section 66A case,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-01 |title=Outside The Frame {{!}} Pragya Singh |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/article/Outside-The-Frame/291178 |access-date=2022-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701073803/https://www.outlookindia.com/article/Outside-The-Frame/291178 |archive-date=2014-07-01 }}</ref> he co-authored a study to document compliance with the judgement to discover ongoing cases which continued unconstitutionally against the Supreme Court judgement. This was called, "shocking" by the Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Shocking": Supreme Court Notice To Centre On Cases Under Scrapped Law |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/shocking-supreme-court-notice-to-centre-over-filing-of-more-than-1-000-cases-under-section-66a-of-it-act-scrapped-by-it-in-2015-2479445 |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> Gupta is the co-founder of the [[Internet Freedom Foundation]] (IFF) and was appointed its first executive director from 2018<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-27 |title=Looking towards the future |url=https://internetfreedom.in/looking-towards-the-future/ |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Internet Freedom Foundation}}</ref> till November, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-18 |title=Transitions and achieving our true potential |url=https://internetfreedom.in/transitions-our-true-potential/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Internet Freedom Foundation |language=en}}</ref> He resumed the role of IFF's Founder Director in November, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-02 |title=Thank you Prateek! |url=https://internetfreedom.in/thank-you-prateek/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=Internet Freedom Foundation |language=en}}</ref> For his work at IFF he was awarded the [[Ashoka Fellowship]] in 2019<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bench |first=Bar & |title=Apar Gupta wins Ashoka Fellowship for work with Internet Freedom Foundation |url=https://www.barandbench.com/interviews/apar-gupta-wins-ashoka-fellowship-for-work-with-internet-freedom-foundation |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Bar and Bench – Indian Legal news |date=15 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref> and the Next Now Fellowship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apar Gupta {{!}} Next Now |url=https://www.next-now.org/fellows/apar-gupta |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=www.next-now.org}}</ref> Gupta also filed a case as a petitioner against the Ministry of Home Affairs for disclosure of statistical data on surveillance in India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Delhi HC seeks Centre's stand on statistical information on e-surveillance |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/story/delhi-hc-seeks-centres-stand-on-statistical-information-on-e-surveillance-328731-2022-04-05 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Business Today |date=5 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He has deposed before a parliamentary committee on the DNA Bill<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rajya Sabha, Report on DNA Technology (Use And Application) Regulation Bill, 2019 |url=https://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/Committee_site/Committee_File/ReportFile/19/147/340_2021_2_17.pdf}}</ref> and before a commission inquiring into the use of [[Pegasus (spyware)|Pegasus]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=2022-01-13 |title=Those 'Directly Affected' By Pegasus Row To Soon Depose Before WB Govt-Formed Panel |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/those-directly-affected-by-pegasus-row-to-soon-depose-before-wb-govt-formed-panel/403568 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=outlookindia.com |language=en}}</ref> On May 31, 2023, he presented Item #7 at the Annual meeting of shareholders of [[Meta Platforms|META Platforms]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1326801/000121465923007846/z525230px14a6g.htm |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=www.sec.gov}}</ref> titled as, ''"Shareholder Proposal Regarding Report on Allegations of Political Entanglement and Content Management Biases in India''"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-27 |title=Meta recommends shareholders vote against proposal on rights impact in India |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/business/companies/meta-recommends-shareholders-vote-against-proposal-on-rights-impact-in-india-8631220/ |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> that was defeated with 5% votes in its favour.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meta shareholders snub proposal to assess hate speech, political bias in India |url=https://themorningcontext.com/internet/meta-shareholders-snub-proposal-to-assess-hate-speech-political-bias-in-india |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=The Morning Context}}</ref> He frequently works on areas of personal autonomy and rights and has advocated against directive on the mandatory installation of the [[Sanchar Saathi]] App<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reuters |date=2026-04-18 |title=India drops proposal to mandate national ID app Aadhaar on smartphones after pushback |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/india-drops-proposal-to-mandate-national-id-app-aadhaar-on-smartphones-after-pushback/article70876405.ece |access-date=2026-04-20 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> and the [[Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023|Broadcasting Bill, 2024]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gupta |first=Apar |date=2023-11-27 |title=Old censorship on a new medium |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/old-censorship-on-a-new-medium/article67576676.ece |access-date=2026-04-20 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> which were rolled back by the Government of India.

== Writing and Lectures ==
Gupta authored the Commentary on the Information Technology Act which is published by [[LexisNexis]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bench |first=Bar & |title=Book Review Commentary on Information Technology Act by Apar Gupta 2nd Edition 2011 Lexis Nexis |url=https://www.barandbench.com/columns/book-review-commentary-information-technology-act-apar-gupta-2nd-edition-2011-lexis |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Bar and Bench – Indian Legal news |date=23 August 2011 |language=en}}</ref> He writes regularly on digital and democratic rights in leading newspapers and is quoted as an expert in India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Author Page for Apar Gupta |url=https://muckrack.com/apar-gupta |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=muckrack.com}}</ref> Gupta is published in reviewed journals like the [[Indian Journal of Law and Technology]], Seminar and the [[India International Centre|India International Center Quarterly]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Author Page for Apar Gupta :: SSRN |url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=1545272 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=papers.ssrn.com}}</ref> He has delivered the 11th [[Krishna Raj]] Memorial Lecture<ref>{{Cite web |title=11th Krishna Raj Memorial Lecture |url=https://ilslaw.edu/announcement/11th-krishna-raj-memorial-lecture/ |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=ILS Law College |language=en-US}}</ref> at the 37th Annual Dr. Ramanatham Memorial Meeting (with Jinee Lokaneeta) and also started a [[YouTube]] channel, 1984 to take forward the discourse on digital policy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How 'Digital India' Has Transformed the Landscape of Policing and Criminal Justice in Delhi |url=https://thewire.in/tech/digital-india-police-democracy-freedom |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=The Wire}}</ref>

== Awards and recognition ==

* Forbes India : 30 under 30 (2014)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forbes India – Apar Gupta: Emerging Voice In Media Laws |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/30-under-30/apar-gupta-emerging-voice-in-media-laws/37171/1 |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Forbes India |language=en}}</ref>
* Ashoka Fellowship (2019)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bench |first=Bar & |title=Apar Gupta wins Ashoka Fellowship for work with Internet Freedom Foundation |url=https://www.barandbench.com/interviews/apar-gupta-wins-ashoka-fellowship-for-work-with-internet-freedom-foundation |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Bar and Bench – Indian Legal news |date=15 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
* Agami [[Shamnad Basheer]] Citizenship Prize : Special Mention (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bench |first=Bar & |title=Winners of second edition of Agami Prize declared |url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/winner-agami-prize-2020 |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Bar and Bench – Indian Legal news |date=21 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
* ROW 100 : Global Tech's Changemakers (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-11 |title=Apar Gupta – Executive Director at Internet Freedom Foundation |url=https://restofworld.org/profile/apar-gupta/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Rest of World |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Global Privacy Assembly, [https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/opc-news/news-and-announcements/2025/nr-c_250225/ Privacy and Human Rights Award] (2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-25 |title=IFF Wins the Global Privacy and Human Rights Award! |url=https://internetfreedom.in/iff-wins-the-global-privacy-and-human-rights-award-2/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Internet Freedom Foundation |language=en}}</ref>
* Tech Policy Press Fellowship (2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hendrix |first=Ramsha Jahangir, Justin |date=2026-01-20 |title=Tech Policy Press Announces 2026 Fellows |url=https://techpolicy.press/tech-policy-press-announces-2026-fellows |access-date=2026-04-20 |website=Tech Policy Press |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [https://muckrack.com/apar-gupta/articles Articles by Apar Gupta]
* [https://seenunseen.in/episodes/2023/10/30/episode-353-apar-gupta-fights-the-good-fight/ The Seen and the Unseen : Apar Gupta Fights the Good Fight]
* [https://www.youtube.com/@AparGupta1984 1984 by Apar Gupta]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gupta, Apar}}
[[Category:Indian social entrepreneurs]]
[[Category:Columbia Law School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Delhi]]
[[Category:Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:Indian male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Apar Gupta - Revision history

Good Life Financial at 09:54, 5 May 2026