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The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has asked the government to prohibit virtual private networks (VPNs) in India once more. The committee identified VPN services as a technological issue that allows criminals to “bypass cybersecurity barriers and stay anonymous online.”
In its report to Rajya Sabha on the government’s response to earlier complaints, the committee proposed creating a “coordination mechanism” in conjunction with foreign organisations to permanently ban VPNs. It also requested that the Ministry of Home Affairs enhance monitoring and surveillance tools to combat the use of VPNs and the dark Web.
The IT ministry has stated that the government can block public access to information in the “interest of sovereignty and integrity of India; defence of India; security of the State; friendly relations with foreign States or; public order or, for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to the above.”
MeitY, on the other hand, does not offer any particular reaction to permanently banning VPNs. The committee also made the following recommendation/observation: MeitY, on the other hand, does not offer any particular reaction to permanently banning VPNs. The committee also made the following recommendation/observation: “the MeitY’s response was incomplete because no information was provided on coordination mechanisms with international agencies to permanently block VPNs and initiatives taken/proposed to strengthen tracking and surveillance mechanisms to combat the use of VPNs and the dark web. The MHA may make attempts to obtain such information from MeitY and provide it to the Committee.”
