Centre Moves To Block Encrypted Email Service Proton Mail: Report (Image: Proton)
The central government has reportedly decided to block Proton Mail, an end-to-end encrypted email service based in Switzerland. The Hindustan Times reported that the IT ministry on Wednesday has decided to issue an order on this matter.
As per the report, the central government is making this move at the request of the Tamil Nadu police over an incident in which at least thirteen schools in Chennai received hoax bomb threats on February 8. At the same time, the Hindustan Times also reported that the final order to block the website has not yet been sent to the Department of Telecommunications. However, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has flagged this issue with the DoT.
The decision to block Proton Mail service was reportedly taken at a meeting of the 69A blocking committee on February 14. As per Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, the designated officer, on approval by the IT Secretary and at the recommendation of the 69A blocking committee, can issue orders to any intermediary or a government agency to block any content for national security, public order, and allied reasons, reported the Hindustan Times.
A nodal officer representing the Tamil Nadu police said that the bomb threat was sent to several schools using Proton Mail, mentioned the HT report. The police said that they attempted to trace the IP address of the sender and also tried to seek help from Interpol on the matter. HT also reported that the MeitY representatives noted during the meeting that receiving information from Proton Mail on criminal matters was a recurrent problem.
At the same time, Proton said in an emailed response to HT that they had received notice from the government about “a possible block.” The company said, “We condemn a potential block as a misguided measure that only serves to harm ordinary people.” Proton also said that blocking access to the service is an “ineffective and inappropriate response” to the reported threats. A Proton spokesperson told HT that they are currently working to resolve this situation. The spokesperson also said that they “routinely” remove users who are found to be using the company”s services for illegal purposes.
In 2020, Russia blocked the Swiss email service Proton Mail. On that occasion, the Russian communications watchdog said that ProtonMail had been used to send fake, anonymous bomb threats.
In yet another sign of the Modi Govt’s efforts to increase surveillance of Indians (especially journalists), it is banning the encrypted email service Proton Mail.
Sources & whistleblowers often communicate with reporters using Proton Mail to avoid their identity being… pic.twitter.com/RZFQLE2TWc
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) February 16, 2024
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale severely criticised the central government on this matter. “In yet another sign of the Modi Govt’s efforts to increase surveillance of Indians (especially journalists), it is banning the encrypted email service Proton Mail,” wrote Saket Gokhale on his X handle on February 16. The TMC leader also added that privacy is being “demolished brick by brick.”
