Government to block ProtonMail after bomb threat: Company responds to India | - Times of India
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The Indian government has decided to block ProtonMail, an end-to-end encrypted email service, after a bomb threat was sent to private schools in Chennai. ProtonMail is working to resolve the situation and cooperate with Indian authorities. However, the company cannot directly answer to foreign law enforcement authorities.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/11998237

The IT ministry has reportedly decided to issue an order blocking end-to-end encrypted email service ProtonMail. According to a report in Hindustan Times, the government is planning to block the email service at the request of the Tamil Nadu police over a hoax bomb threat sent to at least thirteen private schools in Chennai on February 8. The report says that the decision to block ProtonMail was taken at a meeting of the 69A blocking committee on Wednesday (February 14).

A Proton spokesperson told the publication that the company has received the request from MeitY “a few days ago”. “We are currently working to resolve this situation and are investigating how we can best work together with the Indian authorities to do so. We understand the urgency of the situation and are completely clear that our services are not to be used for illegal purposes. We routinely remove users who are found to be doing so and are willing to cooperate wherever possible within international cooperation agreements,” the spokesperson said.

    • kakesEnglish
      14·
      10 months ago

      I imagine this is something they wanted to do beforehand, and this event gave them “just” cause to pull the trigger.

    • Stewbs@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      13·
      10 months ago

      It really is but who knows what goes on the minds of out government’s officials lol

    • LordBelphegor@lemm.eeEnglish
      121·
      10 months ago

      The current political party in power wants to turn India into a fascist surveillance state.