A tribunal in India has mandated the encryption-based email service Proton Mail be restricted in the nation for its refusal to disclose data to authorities.
During a session on April 29 at the High Court of Karnataka, Justice M Nagaprasanna directed the administration to “immediately block” domain names linked with Proton Mail, referencing power under the nation’s Information Technology Act of 2008. This directive arose from a grievance lodged in January by a design enterprise based in New Delhi, claiming that several of its personnel received inappropriate emails via the service.
The potential implementation of the prohibition remains uncertain, as it may encounter additional legal obstacles. The Proton team announced in March 2024 that Indian officials had also suggested enforcing a block on the service due to reported “false bomb threats,” yet it has persisted in operating within the country.
The assault on Proton Mail seems to reflect a broader international trend aimed at taking actions against platforms based on user behavior, akin to the detention of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France, partly for allegedly neglecting to regulate unlawful content. Cointelegraph contacted Proton for feedback but did not receive any reply at the time of publishing.
Related: Crypto ventures prepare for the fight for privacy in Switzerland
In Spain, Proton AG — the Swiss entity behind the platform — supplied data to the authorities concerning one of its users in 2024. This act left numerous privacy proponents questioning the integrity of their data with the centralized service.
Competing for market presence in the world’s most populated nation
Cryptocurrency exchanges are well-acquainted with legally sanctioned campaigns meant to limit their operations within a country, with some scenarios resulting in restrictions or prohibitions. US regulators imposed restrictions on crypto mixing services like Tornado Cash in 2022, encountering rapid backlash from the sector and legal confrontations, while South Korea allegedly blocked 14 exchanges from the Apple store for supposedly operating without the necessary registrations.
In India, users incur a 30% tax on earnings from cryptocurrency trading, which has been in effect since April 2022. Although crypto companies functioning in the nation face escalating regulatory scrutiny, India is estimated to possess over 100 million digital asset holders among its approximately 1.4 billion inhabitants.
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