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.

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.

  • @[email protected]English
    10•10 months ago

    I’m pretty sure that most people who are using Proton Mail are technologically savvy enough to bypass whatever half assed measure the government puts in place.

    • StewbsOPEnglish
      6•10 months ago

      I agree! But it’s still an issue as there are quite a few proton mail users who just wish to achieve a tad bit more privacy and aren’t tech savvy. I know some folks like that myself and tbh sometimes all the technical stuff or going through hoops can just be very daunting/overwhelming at times

    • @fastandcuriousEnglish
      2•10 months ago

      I personally don’t use proton mail, since I don’t really get any e-mails so I just never use any sort of mail app, but what are some easy ways to bypass this?

      • @[email protected]English
        3•10 months ago

        By using a VPN. Most have easy to follow guides on setting it up in your home router or mobile device.

        I run all of my traffic over a VPN regardless to thwart my ISP from selling my data. Everyone should.