India’s recent intermediary liability guidelines contain a provision that will severely undermine or break end-to-end encryption, resulting in a loss of security, privacy and free speech for all.
The new guidelines mandate that all end-to-end encrypted messaging services with over 5 million registered users enable the identification of the ‘first originator’ of information on their platforms, to facilitate traceability of messages on e2ee platforms. The threat to encryption will have extraterritorial effects, endangering privacy and security of citizens, businesses and nations.
The IT Ministry has opened up a period of consultation with no amendments to the traceability requirements. Learn more
