Security News > 2021 > February > India's demand to identify people on chat apps will 'break end-to-end encryption', say digital rights warriors

India's demand to identify people on chat apps will 'break end-to-end encryption', say digital rights warriors
2021-02-26 02:10

After a three-year review process, India has announced strict regulations for instant chat services, social network operators, and video-streaming companies.

India's Internet Freedom Foundation has slammed this traceability requirement, claiming it will be impossible to implement strong end-to-end encryption as a result, and thus could harm privacy.

Another requirement states social media companies "Shall endeavour" to use automated filters, "Or other mechanisms," to identify any child sexual abuse material.

The code requires video streamers to appoint grievance officers, classify programs, verify the age of users so they can only watch age-appropriate content, and adopt India's codes of conduct governing journalism for any news broadcasts.

India has lately shut down social networks on the grounds that protests against new farm laws were coordinated online by bad actors or secessionists.

Requiring messaging services to identify users has clear potential to help the government to further quell protest.


News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/02/26/india_information_technology_intermediary_guidelines_and_digital_media_ethics_code_rules_2021/