Govt Withdraws Controversial Draft Encryption Policy

– The mass use encryption products, which are now being used in web applications, social media sites, and social media applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

The sub-section 84 C, which was also introduced at around the same time, carries provisions of imprisonment for any violation of the Act. “There have been some uncalled for misgivings and we have asked the department to withdraw the draft and reword appropriately”. It will be the government which will notify the type of encryption keys and algorithms to be used by businesses and citizens, giving them backdoor access to all communications. “We need a sound encryption policy”, he said.

Minister of Communications and Information Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters on Tuesday that a draft law on regulation cryptography would be withdrawn and rewritten. However, after facing huge negative reviews and protests against the massive loopholes in the draft, the government has now withdrawn the draft. “I have noted concerns expressed…by the public“.

CNNIBN cites government sources saying that the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) is mulling a withdrawal of the draft proposal.

Hours later, the government chose to withdraw the draft encryption policy. “Government reserves the right to take appropriate action as per law of the country for any violation of this policy”, the draft said.

Prasad also made clear that the draft will not only be reviewed but will also be discussed with the experts to specify to whom the policy will be applicable. Modi is scheduled to meet the chief executives of Microsoft and Google as well as visit the Facebook campus where he will address a townhall-style meeting with the social media giant’s cofounder Mark Zuckerberg.

The policy that critics describe as “draconian” sought to encourage use of encryption or conversion of electronic data into another form, and intends to put regulations in place for the goal . He further added that contrary to the stated objective of the encryption policy of Government of India of creating a security environment and ensuring secured transaction.