wordpress blog stats
Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Updated: India’s draft encryption policy puts user privacy in danger

Update: Web security consultant Akash Mahajan adds that the policy does not cover the following: 1. Hard Disk Encryption Products 2. SSH and RDP Encryption (Required to manage servers) 3. Wearables like Fitbit 4. Smartphone Full Disk Encryption 5. Symmetric Encryption Software to transfer files between humans and computers 6. OS Update Servers 7. Browser Update Servers 8. App Store, Play Store etc. 9. Encrypted Streaming for audio video 10. Email Encryption 11. Off The Record Messaging 12. Voice Communication apps like Skype etc. 13. Digital Signatures for software Update: the DeitY, after the public outcry, has issued an update, which doesn't address the issue entirely. The update (pdf): By way of clarification, the following categories of encryption products are being exempted from the purview of the draft national encryption policy: 1. The mass use encryption products, which are currently being used in web applications, social media sites, and social media applications such as Whatsapp,Facebook,Twitter etc. 2. SSL/TLS encryption products being used in Internet-banking and payment gateways as directed by the Reserve Bank of India 3. SSL/TLS encryption products being used for e-commerce and password based transactions. The problems with the update 1. The usage of the phrase 'currently in use' renders the policy vague: Firstly, when is "currently"? 2. Will a new service that uses a different kind of encryption to protect its users, still be covered? Why should users be "restricted to encryption currently in use"? Why should services like Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter define our security standards?…

Please subscribe/login to read the full story.
Written By

Founder @ MediaNama. TED Fellow. Asia21 Fellow @ Asia Society. Co-founder SaveTheInternet.in and Internet Freedom Foundation. Advisory board @ CyberBRICS

Free Reads

News

With GPS in every car, India's toll collection is going high-tech.

News

Google is currently undergoing the necessary procedures for the leasehold land, which is presently under the ownership of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation.

News

The pilot project for which is being launched in 19 cities this year, with a plan to launch a full-fledged rollout next year.

MediaNama’s mission is to help build a digital ecosystem which is open, fair, global and competitive.

Views

News

NPCI CEO Dilip Asbe recently said that what is not written in regulations is a no-go for fintech entities. But following this advice could...

News

Notably, Indus Appstore will allow app developers to use third-party billing systems for in-app billing without having to pay any commission to Indus, a...

News

The existing commission-based model, which companies like Uber and Ola have used for a long time and still stick to, has received criticism from...

News

Factors like Indus not charging developers any commission for in-app payments and antitrust orders issued by India's competition regulator against Google could contribute to...

News

Is open-sourcing of AI, and the use cases that come with it, a good starting point to discuss the responsibility and liability of AI?...

You May Also Like

News

Google has released a Google Travel Trends Report which states that branded budget hotel search queries grew 179% year over year (YOY) in India, in...

Advert

135 job openings in over 60 companies are listed at our free Digital and Mobile Job Board: If you’re looking for a job, or...

News

By Aroon Deep and Aditya Chunduru You’re reading it here first: Twitter has complied with government requests to censor 52 tweets that mostly criticised...

News

Rajesh Kumar* doesn’t have many enemies in life. But, Uber, for which he drives a cab everyday, is starting to look like one, he...

MediaNama is the premier source of information and analysis on Technology Policy in India. More about MediaNama, and contact information, here.

© 2008-2021 Mixed Bag Media Pvt. Ltd. Developed By PixelVJ

Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Name:*
Your email address:*
*
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

© 2008-2021 Mixed Bag Media Pvt. Ltd. Developed By PixelVJ