Indian Government Threatens to Ban Gmail, Skype and BlackBerry

[v9s]

Bored with China and Pakistan banning web services left and right? Here is something new. Possibly feeling a bit left out, the Indian government has decided to join in on all the fun.

Apparently, the Indian security agencies are struggling to monitor the content being shared over Gmail, Skype and Blackberries due to their highly encrypted nature. According to The Hindu, a reputed daily newspaper in India, “Department of Telecom (DoT) will ask these companies to either ensure that data going through their networks be made available to security agencies in a readable format or face a ban from offering services in India.”

Indian security agencies are concerned that services like Skype are being used by terrorists to bypass monitoring mechanisms put in place for telephone calls. Skype and RIM (the Canadian manufacturer of BlackBerry handsets) will be given 15 days to respond, failing which services that do not allow lawful interception on a real-time basis would be banned. Google will also be asked to use encryption standards that can be monitored by the Government. However, the Government won’t impose any deadline on the search engine giant.

This is not the first time RIM has run into trouble with the Indian government. Back in 2008, there was a similar standoff. However, at that time, the Indian Government had claimed that all differences have been resolved.

Formal notices are expected to be served to all affected parties in the first week of July. While, a Google spokesperson declined to comment, Skype has come out and termed any potential ban as “a big step backwards”.

Indian Government Threatens to Ban Gmail, Skype and BlackBerry


Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither - Benjamin Franklin

 

[FreekiN]

Seems as though everyone wants to ban something that they're too lazy to put up with.

 

[Hyde]

lol............... free speech

no worries - i don't think there is any "free country" in the world... somewhere someone is always being discriminated........ so keep it up

 

[Hulk]

Before laughing look at the reason with logic. It is highly valid, not like Pakistan.

 

[Choppers]

The ban is not based on sentiments.This is a valid concern shown by GoI.

 

[Devil Soul]

now thats interesting ...... when we ban its not logical when they do it its logical .....

 

[v9s]

Before laughing look at the reason with logic. It is highly valid, not like Pakistan.

It seems you forgot to read this part:

Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither - Benjamin Franklin

You Indians tend to rag on China for its censorship and electronic spying, but when India does it, it's all fine and dandy huh?

 

[Hulk]

dude they are only talking about calls made by gmail, skype etc. Rest is up to you, if you cannot differential a social ban and security related ban. By the way this is just a proposal so nothing happened so far.

 

[falconfx]

Wow you guys are comparing bans concerning national security to bans of sites that draw caricatures of your holy person?

How many of you are educated? These same sites comply with US when they are asked to share their decryption code. They have to do it in India too, or take their business elsewhere.

 

[trident2010]

Wow you guys are comparing bans concerning national security to bans of sites that draw caricatures of your holy person?

How many of you are educated? These same sites comply with US when they are asked to share their decryption code. They have to do it in India too, or take their business elsewhere.

Yup.

In US they even take off your pants too in the name of security. They check each and every packet of data on internet. So India asking the same for the security purposes whats wrong? If companies want to comply well and good else bye-bye. They need India, India will be fine without it.

Good going ..

I expect more stringent actions against misuse of internet by terrorists or anti-social elements.

 

[Gin ka Pakistan]

In US they even take off your pants too in the name of secutiry.

I think Indian ex Muslim President was checked at the Air Port and Shahrukh Khan too.

 

[trident2010]

I think Indian ex Muslim President was checked at the Air Port and Shahrukh Khan too.

I was talking about security measures in US. But for some countries including pakistan, they ask to take off the clothes too. Apart from that if someone is muslim then also they do it occasionally.

Not good ..

 

[Gin ka Pakistan]

I was talking about security measures in US. But for some countries including pakistan, they ask to take off the clothes too. Apart from that if someone is muslim then also they do it occasionally.

Not good ..

If that's the price of good life then they have to pay it

 

[trident2010]

If that's the price of good life then they have to pay it

Yep.

As soon as one leave the motherland, get prepared for being 2nd class citizen.

 

[Bang Galore]

Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither - Benjamin Franklin

Better be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident security.- Edmund Burke