Indian Court Issues Ruling to Block Proton Mail Over Misuse and Noncompliance Allegations

• The popular Proton Mail service was issued a blocking order in India over alleged misuse.
• A local firm filed a complaint citing noncompliance with requests for sender information regarding offensive communications.
• The ruling falls under India's Information Technology Act of 2008, which governs online content restrictions.

An Indian court ordered the blocking of the encrypted email service Proton Mail. The order follows a complaint from a firm saying Proton Mail was used to deliver obscene, abusive, and vulgar language, artificial intelligence (AI) generated deepfake imagery, and other sexually explicit content to its employees. 

The order targeting the encrypted email service renowned for its focus on security and privacy was issued by the Karnataka High Court after a New Delhi-based company, M Moser Design Associates, filed a complaint. 

The court mandated that the Indian government proceed with blocking Proton Mail during a hearing on Tuesday.

The complaint alleged the company’s employees had received e-mails containing obscene, abusive, and vulgar language, artificial intelligence (AI) generated deepfake images, and sexually explicit content.

Central to the complaint was Proton Mail’s alleged noncompliance with requests for sender information regarding offensive communications, despite an active police investigation. M Moser Design Associates argued that Proton Mail’s refusal to provide sender details left law enforcement with no alternative but to seek its blocking.  

The Indian government has expressed reservations about its ability to address the misuse of encrypted email services without international cooperation. The additional solicitor general representing the government stated that the issue could potentially require intervention from Swiss authorities, where Proton is headquartered, to obtain necessary information.

The company has faced prior legal challenges, including a petition to block access to the service in 2024 by Tamil Nadu’s police following hoax bomb threats sent via its platform. 

Swiss authorities had previously stepped in, halting such demands to ensure compliance with international data privacy and jurisdictional standards.  

Proton Mail was designed to provide privacy-focused communication for its users, catering to individuals and organizations prioritizing secure exchanges. The platform employs advanced end-to-end encryption, ensuring that even Proton Mail cannot access the content of user emails. While this bolsters privacy, it poses challenges for investigations involving alleged misuse.