India Blocks Encrypted Email Service Proton Mail for Refusing to Share User Data

A court in India has ordered the encrypted email service Proton Mail to be blocked in the country for refusing to share information with authorities.

According to a recent report by Cointelegraph, Justice M Nagaprasanna of the High Court of Karnataka ordered the government to “block forthwith” domain names related to Proton Mail during an April 29 hearing. The order, which appears to be authorized under the Information Technology Act of 2008, follows a complaint filed in January by a New Delhi-based design firm about allegedly harassing emails from Proton Mail users.

It remains unclear whether the ruling will be carried out or face further legal challenges. The Proton team reported in March 2024 that Indian authorities had similarly proposed ordering the service to be blocked in response to alleged “hoax bomb threats.” However, Proton Mail continued to operate in the country at the time.

The crackdown on Proton Mail seems to be part of a broader global effort to hold platforms accountable for the actions of their users. Notably, Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested in France in March 2024, partly due to his company’s alleged failure to moderate illicit content.

Cointelegraph has reached out to Proton for comment.

In Spain, Proton AG, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail, disclosed that it provided user data to the authorities in response to a request related to a case of alleged crimes. This move sparked debate among privacy advocates, considering Proton Mail’s marketing emphasis on secure and encrypted communication.

Earlier in 2024, a report by the Economic Times mentioned that India's central bank was planning to introduce a digital rupee, potentially leading to restrictions on private cryptocurrencies.