Government withdraws controversial draft encryption policy: Reports

tech2 News StaffSep 22, 2015 15:00:51 IST

After the recent debate around the draft encryption policy, reports are now emerging that the government has withdrawn the controversial draft policy. According to a report by CNN IBN citing sources, "A new draft of the policy will be issued soon after considering all aspects to secure the Internet consumers."

Earlier, the government had released a draft proposal for a new national encryption policy that required communication to do away with encryption and store information for a period of 90 days. It also required users to be responsible for communication undertaken even for personal reasons. After a huge outcry over the union government’s new draft encryption policy, the government has now confirmed some exemptions.

The rather stringent clauses in the draft raised questions over how popular communication channels such as instant messaging, banking, social media as well as e-commerce would be handled. After vocal opposition across media and popular social networks, an addendum to the draft encryption policy was released. As per the addendum, services such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and popular applications such as banking, payment gateways and e-commerce sites would be exempt from the policy requirements.

You can read the complete report below:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/282239916/DRAFT-NATIONAL-ENCRYPTION-POLICY

According to the draft, the government wants to 'provide confidentiality of information in cyber space for individuals, protection of sensitive or proprietary information for individuals & businesses, ensuring continuing reliability and integrity of nationally critical information systems and networks, which is great, but some parts of the documents simply say otherwise.