Faisal Farooqui


Faisal I. Farooqui is a technology entrepreneur. Farooqui is best known as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of MouthShut.com. Farooqui is an advocate of freedom of expression on the Internet.

Early life

Farooqui obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems and Finance from the State University of New York at Binghamton. He was elected to the University's Faculty Senate Committee and the Student government. While there, he started writing tech-column and later became the Technology Editor of the campus newspaper, Pipe Dream. Upon graduation, he joined the telecom practice of American Management System, in Virginia.

Career

In 2000, Farooqui launched MouthShut.com.
n 2012, Entrepreneur Magazine named Farooqui among the Top Business People in India and was included in a list of Entrepreneurs who have created History. Farooqui has also been named as a Youth Icon on India's national TV news channel.
The British High Commission in Delhi announced Farooqui among 50 Indians to its list of young leaders who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and symbolize optimism of the country.

Marketing innovation

According to the Economic Times, Farooqui pioneered auto-rickshaw advertising in India by painting the logo of MouthShut.com on the back of the hood of rickshaws in Mumbai in 2001

No Internet Shutdowns

Farooqui and others also petitioned the Chief Ministers of twelve Indian states imploring them to prohibit the issuance of orders that make Internet services entirely inaccessible for a particular area. The petition was part of an effort by a group of organizations and citizens led by SFLC.in, a Delhi-based not-for-profit organization of which Farooqui is an governing board member.
India's restrictive IT Rules in the Supreme Court which resulted in the Honorable Supreme Court striking down of Section 66A and reading down of many other sections of the Information Technology Act of India Mouthshut.com v. Union of India