The Karnataka High Court ruled just last month to block Proton Mail throughout all of India. This decision followed a recent outcry over the platform being used to send national hoax bomb threats. The email service, well known for its strong security and privacy protections, is based in Switzerland. The court’s decision underscores the Indian government’s ongoing struggle to address cyber threats while balancing citizens’ rights to secure communication.
Since March 2021, the Karnataka High Court has enforced an Indian government-requested nationwide block on Proton Mail. This move is in violation of the Information Technology Act 2008. Justice M Nagaprasanna, while hearing the case, pointed out the need for quick intervention considering the recent threats that have been made. This development comes after the Delhi High Court instructed state police and the Indian government’s home ministry to investigate the reported misuse of Proton Mail across the country.
The outcry came soon after the news of prank bomb threats against local schools in Tamil Nadu surfaced. FBI investigators identified that these threats were sent with Proton Mail. In retaliation, Tamil Nadu police department had tried to shut down the email service last year. Things turned ugly when New Delhi based M Moser Design Associates, an architectural firm, charged against Proton Mail. They sued the company for failing to report suspicious activity and for failing to tell them who was behind those scary messages.
Despite law enforcement’s efforts, Proton Mail maintained its stance on user privacy, refusing to share information regarding the sender of the allegedly offensive emails. Little did we know that the Indian govt’s IT ministry would launch into action after that rejection. So they alerted their internet service providers to preemptively block access to Proton Mail.
Additional Solicitor General Aravind Kamath represented the Indian government at the hearings. He stressed the need to speed up the threats that cybercriminals might bring. In this case, it was the Swiss federal authorities who intervened to prevent the blocking of Proton Mail. They did so because they care deeply about user privacy and the freedom of communication.
Proton Mail countered the court’s order by arguing that blocking access would not be a meaningful solution to stopping cybercriminals.
“Blocking access to Proton Mail simply prevents law-abiding citizens from communicating securely and does not prevent cybercriminals from sending threats with another email service, especially if the perpetrators are located outside of India.” – Proton
The intricacies of this new issue only provide more proof to the fight between national security and individual privacy rights still raging today. As the war continues to unfold, one can only hope to see governments and tech companies alike come to terms with these formidable challenges.