Indian Court Orders Nationwide Block of Proton Mail Amid Legal Complaint
On April 29, 2025, the High Court of Karnataka in India issued a ruling to block the privacy-focused email service, Proton Mail, nationwide. This decision follows a legal complaint filed by M Moser Design Associated India in January 2025, alleging that staff received abusive emails and AI-generated deepfake content, including obscene and sexually explicit messages.
Proton Mail, a Swiss-based service known for its end-to-end encryption, ensures that only the sender and recipient can access email content. Founded by scientists from CERN in 2013, the company is headquartered in Geneva and operates under Proton AG. Proton Mail employs client-side encryption, which means emails are encrypted on users' devices before being sent to its servers, enhancing privacy and security.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, in a hearing streamed on YouTube, directed the Indian government to block Proton Mail under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, citing the failure of the service to share details about the sender of the offensive emails, despite a police complaint.
This marks the second attempt within two years to block Proton Mail in India. The Indian government had previously considered blocking the service in February 2024 in response to hoax bomb threats sent through Proton Mail. Despite these discussions, the service has remained accessible in India.
Proton Mail has criticized the decision, stating that blocking the service would harm legitimate users while failing to prevent cybercriminals, who could simply use other platforms. Swiss authorities are in talks with India to prevent the block, and Proton Mail has expressed gratitude for their support, emphasizing that secure communication is crucial for law-abiding citizens.
The blocking order has not yet been implemented, and discussions are ongoing between Swiss and Indian authorities to find a resolution.
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