Thread by @internetfreedom

In the first six months of 2021, India saw 348.7 million VPN installations, a year on year growth of 671%.

But does India face the threat of a VPN ban today? The Standing Committee on Home Affairs certainly wants them blocked. #SaveTheInternet 1/n
internetfreedom.in/hands-off-our-…

VPNs are important because they:

💻 help secure user data (against commercial fraud)

💻 help journalists, activists & whistleblowers secure confidential information

💻 allow users to sidestep arbitrary website blockings (i.e. help in creating #netneutrality) 2/n

Under the guise of "women's safety", the Standing Committee on Home Affairs wants to ‘strengthen tracking and surveillance mechanisms’!

VPNs work by encrypting data traffic, which prevents your ISP from tracking your location or data. Keeping VPN services legal is essential. 3/n

How did talk of a #VPNBan come to pass?

On 15 March '21, the Standing Committee presented its report on crimes against women & children, and noted that in cyber crimes, VPNs allow users to bypass security walls & stay anonymous, which is why VPNs must be permanently blocked. 4/n

.@GoI_MeitY responded to the Standing Committee's recommendations, stating that provisions to block VPNs in certain cases, such as — the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, already exist under the IT Act 2000. 5/n

The Standing Committee responded by stating that the @GoI_MeitY's response was "incomplete" & that no information was provided on "coordination mechanisms with international agencies to block VPNs permanently," as well as putting "a check on the use of VPN and the dark web." 6/n

Our suggestion to the MHA would be to seek legal opinion, and to open up a public consultation process with criminologists, technologists, & civil society organisations that focus on digital rights.

Safety cannot be an excuse to violate citizens' privacy. #SaveTheInternet 7/n

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