Indian Court Orders Nationwide Block of Privacy-Oriented Email Service Proton Mail

In a significant development that has sent shockwaves through the digital community, an Indian court has ordered a nationwide block of the popular privacy-oriented email service Proton Mail. The High Court of Karnataka made this order on April 29, 2025, following a legal complaint filed by a local firm, M Moser Design Associated India.

Proton Mail, founded in 2013 by scientists from CERN, is a Swiss-based email service that has gained widespread recognition for its end-to-end encryption feature. This means that only the sender and recipient can read the messages, providing an unparalleled level of security and privacy to users. The company employs client-side encryption, which ensures that emails are encrypted on the user's device before being sent to Proton's servers.

The email service has been a target of criticism in India due to its stance on sharing information about the sender of allegedly offensive emails. In January 2025, the local firm M Moser Design Associated India complained that staff received abusive emails and AI-generated deepfake content containing obscene language and sexually explicit content. Despite filing a police complaint, Proton Mail reportedly refused to share details about the sender.

The Indian government has now been ordered to block Proton Mail under Section 69A of the IT Act. The court's order was made in response to the complaint filed by M Moser Design Associated India and is the second legal attempt to block the encrypted email service in India. However, at this time, the block on Proton Mail has not yet taken effect.

Proton Mail has been available in India despite reports suggesting otherwise. In a statement published by the company, they expressed their resolute opposition to the use of their services for purposes that are contrary to Swiss law. They emphasized that they would never block users who share common interests with Indian authorities in eradicating illegal usage.

Swiss authorities have been engaging with India to prevent a block of Proton Mail, and thanks to their support, the service remains accessible in India. The company has thanked Indian officials and civil society for defending secure communication, stressing that blocking the service harms law-abiding users without stopping cybercriminals using other platforms.

"Blocking access to Proton Mail simply prevents law-abiding citizens from communicating securely and does not prevent cybercriminals from sending threats with another email service, especially if the perpetrators are located outside of India," concludes the statement. The situation highlights the ongoing debate about online security, privacy, and censorship in India.

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