21 September 2015

Pin It

India Deleting WhatsApp Messages to become illegal A crime

India Deleting WhatsApp Messages from Own Mobile will become illegal A crime
The Department of Electronics and Information Technology has drafted a National Encryption Policy
according to which the citizens are expected to maintain a copy of all the messages sent through encrypted messaging services such as WhatsApp, Google Hangouts or Apple's iMessage for 90 days.

The draft was formulated by an expert group set up by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) under Section 84A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. 

As per draft On failing to store the messages for the required period of time or on deleting the messages, one may have to face legal action

Draft mandates that users should not only adhere to standards notified by the government but also produce plain text and encrypted copies of communications if demanded by law enforcement agencies for up to 90 days from the date of transaction.

The onus to store this plain text communication lies with end user of each category, and if the entity is based out of India then the responsibility of providing the plain text communication lies with the corresponding entity based in India.

The department of electronics and information technology (DeitY) has posted the draft on its website inviting mailed comments from the public on its mission, strategies, objectives, and regulatory framework, which you can send to akrishnan@deity.gov.in, until October 16, 2015.

the policy proposes the setting up of a specialized agency to oversee its implementation. Service providers located within and outside India, using encryption technology for providing any type of services in India, must enter into an agreement with the government for providing such services in India.

The government will designate an agency for entering into such an agreement with the service providers. The policy also mentions that all vendors of encryption products shall register their products with the designated agency. Further such vendors shall work with the designated government agencies in security evaluation of their encryption products.

According to the draft the government will have access to all encrypted information, including personal emails, messages or even data stored on a private business server located in India or abroad.

users in India will be allowed to use only those encryption products that are registered in India.


For me this draft is another foolish idea

The above policy will just create fear among citizens as well as software makers.

Majority Indians will feel they are doing crime as its difficult to manage and keep messages for 90 days.

It will become easy for Government Agencies to harass the honest Citizens of India.

It will become easy for the Government Agencies to harass the companies which make security software’s.

Who is the Government to tell us which Encryption to use or Not?

After Food Ban Now Government has decided to control and take over our right to use which ever free encryption technology we like or want to use.

Government will decide which Encryption technology is good
How it will happen?

1- Pay the bribes and get listed in the allowed list

2-Without court orders they will need to provide all the information to government whenever government wants.

Let us hope this policy remains only on the paper forever.

One more chance for Rahul Gandhi and Congress to fight for the rights of Citizens of India.


Reality views by sm –

Monday, September 21, 2015

Tags – Technology National Encryption Policy Draft

6 comments:

Content Hedgehog September 22, 2015  

I feel like I should know what WhatsApp is... buuut I don't, haha.

Bikram September 22, 2015  

That is RUBBISH.. how can they do that .. we are supposed to be a democratic country with some fundamental rights ..


Bikram's

Destination Infinity September 22, 2015  

This silly thing has already been withdrawn, I guess. Nothing to worry for now.

Destination Infinity

SM September 23, 2015  

@Destination Infinity
thanks.
Yes Government said about that do not know about future.