Government wants access to encrypted chats and calls of WhatsApp


The central government is preparing a draft of a new law to gain access to encrypted chats and calls on popular messaging services WhatsApp and Signal. Due to the fact that chats on WhatsApp are encrypted, no one can access them including the app developer and the government. However, the government wants to change this situation and for this a new law has been proposed. This can give the government access to encrypted communication.

If this law If passed, it could have a major impact on data privacy. It proposes to introduce a legal framework on interception of OTT apps and services, including WhatsApp and Signal. Feedback can be taken from the public on this. The definition of telecommunication services in the law includes electronic mail, voice mail, video and data communication services, landline and mobile services, internet and broadband services, satellite-based communication services, internet-based communication services and certain other means of communication. Any service can be added to this definition and this can give the government access to encrypted chats, voice calls and video calls.

Under section 24 of the draft law, the government or any of its representatives can requisition access to chats or calls in the event of a public emergency or in the interest of public safety. Encryption is a technology that prevents a third party from monitoring the communication between two parties. In case of implementation of this law, WhatsApp and Signal will have to remove the feature of encrypted messages or they will have the option of shutting down their operations in the country. WhatsApp had imposed a permanent ban on about 24 lakh accounts in India in July. WhatsApp Had told that he himself has banned about 14 lakh accounts and no reports were received from the users for these accounts.

Earlier this year, several VPN firms shut down their servers in the country in protest against the enactment of a law mandating them to record users’ data and share it with authorities. These firms started using virtual servers to serve local customers.

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