The Karnataka High Court has directed the Indian government to block encrypted email service Proton Mail under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2008, following a petition by Bengaluru-based firm M Moser Design Associates.
The order mandates immediate blocking of Proton Mail’s domains and specific URLs until formal proceedings conclude, citing the service’s alleged role in facilitating cybercrimes.
Employees received emails containing AI-generated deepfake images, abusive language etc. via Proton Mail, with senders exploiting its end-to-end encryption and anonymity.
The court invoked Section 69A of the IT Act, which empowers the government to block content for public safety, after Proton Mail refused to share sender details despite a police complaint.
The case reflects growing tensions between privacy-focused platforms and law enforcement’s ability to investigate crimes, paralleling actions against services like Telegram. Proton, bound by Swiss law, cannot share user data with foreign authorities without Swiss legal orders.
As of reporting, Proton Mail remains accessible in India, pending government action. Previous attempts to block the service in 2024 over hoax bomb threats did not materialize.
The case highlights challenges in regulating encrypted services that operate outside Indian jurisdiction, with the petitioner alleging Proton misleads users by allowing location selection as “India” despite having no local servers.
The ruling underscores India’s push to hold tech platforms accountable for illicit content, even as privacy advocates warn against undermining encryption safeguards.
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