Truth, Trust & Technology: A Policy Dialogue on Online Speech Regulation | By NLSIU & Ikigai Law

The National Law School of India University, Bengaluru and Ikigai Law, a law and public policy firm, are co-hosting an event on ‘Truth, Trust & Technology: A Policy Dialogue on Online Speech Regulation,’ on November 7, 2025.

The event is being held from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Richmond Road, Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru. High tea is at 4:30 pm.

About the Policy Dialogue

Recently, copies of draft ‘Misinformation and Hate Speech Bills (Bills)’ attributed to the Karnataka Government have sparked critical conversations on how to best address online harms while upholding constitutional freedoms. With the Government of Karnataka planning consultations, this dialogue provides a timely opportunity for voices to deliberate on how Karnataka can shape balanced, practical, and constitutionally sound approaches to regulating misinformation and hate speech, while safeguarding fundamental freedoms.

This dialogue will offer a front-row view into the debates shaping India’s approach to online speech.

Format and Themes

The event will convene diverse groups of participants ranging from lawyers, journalists, policy professionals, academia, and industry, shaping India’s tech policy landscape.

The event will open with a keynote address and Q&A featuring Shri. Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT/BT and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka. This will be followed by two panel discussions:

1. Panel 1 – Regulating speech in Karnataka: A constitutional tug of war

This will examine the constitutional principles and legal limits on speech regulation at the state level and its interplay with existing national laws.

The panellists include – Jayna Kothari (Senior Advocate), Alok Prasanna Kumar (Co-founder, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy), Malavika Prasad (Lead Counsel, Sadananda & Prasad), Manu Kulkarni (Partner, Poovayya & Co.), Nehaa Chaudhari (Partner, Ikigai Law) and Dr. Sudhir Krishnaswamy (Vice-Chancellor, NLSIU).

2. Panel 2 – Tackling misinformation in practice: risks, responsibilities and alternatives

This will unpack practical challenges of addressing misinformation and hate speech online and explore non-legislative solutions that governments can adopt.

The panellists include – Aiyshwarya Manchanahalli Mahadev (Chairperson of Social Media Department, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee), Dhanya Rajendran (Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief, The News Minute), Rajneil Kamath (Vice-President, Trusted Information Alliance), Shrabonti Bagchi (National Features Editor, Mint), Siddharth Narrain (Assistant Professor of Law, NLSIU) and Surabhi Hodigere (Spokesperson for BJP, Karnataka).

Registration

To register for the event, click here.
All attendees are requested to confirm their participation by November 4, 2025.