Ban VPN In India To Combat Increasing Cybercrime: Parliamentary Committee To Govt. Of India

Block VPNs in India to clamp down on Criminals, Parliamentary Committee Urges Govt

The Parliamentary committee on Home Affairs has recommended the central government to dam VPNs in India permanently, so as to assist hamper on cyber crimes. (Image for representative purposes only)

The recommendation to dam VPNs in India come after the govt liberalised the utilization of VPNs to enable OSPs to figure remotely, in 2020.

A parliamentary committee on Home Affairs has urged the central government of India to dam VPNs in India, alleging that such services “allow criminals to stay anonymous online." As reported by MediaNama, the committee has highlighted that the Ministry of Home Affairs must coordinate with the Ministry of Electronics and knowledge Technology to “identify and permanently block such VPNs with the assistance of internet service providers." The recommendations also suggested that India must develop a “coordination mechanism" with international agencies, so as to dam VPNs in India permanently.

The recommendation by the parliamentary committee comes months after the central government liberalised the opposite Service Providers (OSPs) sector by recommending the official use of VPNs, so as to facilitate remote working ability for India’s massive outsourced IT industry. The move was deemed as a welcome one to facilitate the functioning of 1 of India’s largest industry sectors, in effect of the Covid-19 pandemic. The move essentially relaxed the erstwhile norms set by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) concerning call centres and IT services in India.

Action taken by Government:-

                                   Titled ‘Action taken by Government on the recommendations and observations contained within the 230th report on the atrocities and crimes against women and children’ the report no. 233 by the committee reads because the following:

Technological challenge:-

                             “The Committee notes with anxiety the technological challenge posed by VPN services and Dark Web, which will bypass cyber security walls and permit criminals to stay anonymous online. As of date, VPN can easily be downloaded, as many websites are providing such facilities and advertising them. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Ministry of Home Affairs should coordinate with the Ministry of Electronics and knowledge Technology to spot and permanently block such VPNs with the assistance of internet service providers. The Committee also recommends that a coordination mechanism should even be developed with international agencies to make sure that these VPNs are blocked permanently. The Ministry must take initiatives to strengthen the tracking and surveillance mechanisms by further improving and developing the state-of-the-art technology, to place a check on the utilization of VPN and therefore the dark web."

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In its later part, the report also states, “The Committee notes the unfinished reply of the MeitY as no information has been provided on coordination mechanisms with international agencies to dam VPNs permanently and initiatives taken/proposed to strengthen the tracking and surveillance mechanisms to place a check on the utilization of VPN and therefore the dark web. The MHA may put its efforts in getting such information from MeitY and furnish an equivalent to the Come

At the instant , it's not clear what the follow-up move regarding this is able to be. Moves to dam VPNs in India and abroad are often deemed by privacy advocates as a move which will stifle the free exchange of data on the web . Going forward, it'll be interesting to ascertain what move is undertaken next. In terms of regulating actions on the web , the govt has already moved in 2020 to enforce bans on specific apps with ties to China, citing national security because the reason behind its actions.

Technology reporter:-

                            SHOUVIK DAS Shouvik Das may be a technology reporter who covers cyber security, gaming, internet, technology policy, new technologies and science for News and CNN-News18's weekly Tech & Auto Show. He has been reporting on various beats of technology across print, online and tv platforms for over six years. He features a deep-rooted interest in engineering and mobility, may be a part-time trainspotter, and a Manchester United supporter.