The Tamil Nadu police requested that the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITy) block Proton Mail after a false bomb threat was received at 13 private schools in Chennai on February 8.
The private schools in Chennai received bomb threats via email, forcing early dismissal. However, the police later declared the emails a hoax, and GCP Assistant Commissioner of Police Prem Anand Sinha reassured the public, per The Indian Express.
Despite concerns about the lack of proper student dispersal arrangements, the Greater Chennai Police urged the public not to panic amidst the crowding and confusion around schools.
The decision to block Proton Mail was confirmed following a meeting of the 69A blocking committee on Wednesday.
According to Section 69A of the IT Act, the designated officer, with approval from the IT Secretary and at the recommendation of the 69A blocking committee, can issue orders to block content for reasons related to national security, public order, and allied concerns.
Proton Mail Blasts India's Action
While the final order to block Proton Mail is yet to be transmitted to the Department of Telecommunications, MEITy has already brought the issue to the attention of the deparment, according to the Hindustan Times.
During the meeting, the nodal officer representing the Tamil Nadu government revealed that a bomb threat had been sent to multiple schools using Proton Mail.
Despite efforts by the police to trace the sender's IP address and seek assistance from Interpol, no progress was made. MEITy representatives noted that obtaining information from Proton Mail, unrelated to Section 69A matters, poses a recurring challenge.
Responding to the hoax bomb threat issue, Proton Mail acknowledged receiving notice from MEITy about a potential block and condemned it as a misguided measure that could harm ordinary people.
The company emphasized that blocking access to Proton is an ineffective response to reported threats, as it wouldn't prevent cybercriminals from using alternative email services or be effective if perpetrators are located outside of India.
Under Swiss law, Proton Mail clarified that it cannot directly respond to foreign law enforcement authorities. However, Swiss authorities may assist foreign authorities with valid requests, complying with international assistance procedures and Swiss law.
Read Also: UN Urges Tech Giants to Stop Profiting from Toxic Content Fueling Antisemitism, Racism
A spokesperson from Proton Mail disclosed that they received the request from MEITy a few days ago and are actively working to resolve the situation, collaborating with Indian authorities.
The company expressed its understanding of the urgency of the situation and clarified that its services are not intended for illegal purposes. Proton Mail highlighted its routine removal of users engaged in illegal activities and willingness to cooperate within international cooperation agreements.
Despite Proton Mail's end-to-end encryption, the privacy policy acknowledges that certain email metadata, including sender and recipient email addresses, the IP address of incoming messages, attachment names, message subjects, and message sent and received times, is available due to the nature of the SMTP protocol.
Robotics vs. Bomb Threats
In a development reported by TechTimes, the UK government showcased how it fosters the development of advanced technology to combat bomb threats in a recent hackathon involving 40 programmers to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to enhance responses.
Orchestrated by the Defense AI Center (DAIC), the event aimed to unite skilled individuals to collectively address this challenge, showcasing the potential of AI and robotic dogs, like Boston Dynamics' Spot, in emergency scenarios.
The continuous effort is to refine mission precision with minimal human intervention. The hackathon sought to foster collaborative endeavors in crafting deployable systems where AI assumes a central role, particularly in minimizing bomb-disposal risks.
Related Article: Expert: China on High Alert as India's Cybersecurity Threats Surge
