An Indian court has issued an order to block access to the secure email service Proton Mail across the country, citing concerns related to the misuse of the platform.
On Tuesday, the Karnataka High Court instructed the Indian government to take steps to restrict Proton Mail under the Information Technology Act of 2008. The directive follows a legal complaint filed by M Moser Design Associates, a design consultancy based in New Delhi. The company alleged that its staff received disturbing and obscene messages sent via Proton Mail.
During a court session that was livestreamed on YouTube, Justice M. Nagaprasanna expressed concern over the nature of the content shared through the email platform. He instructed the central government to proceed with blocking the service, referencing points raised during the hearing.
The root of the issue lies in Proton Mail’s refusal to disclose information about the sender of the offensive emails. According to the petitioner, the email provider did not respond to police requests, prompting the firm to ask for the service to be regulated or banned in India.
While representing the government, Additional Solicitor General Aravind Kamath noted that India’s role might be limited in such cases since Proton Mail operates from Switzerland. He mentioned that any legal action requiring user information would likely need to go through the Swiss legal system.
As of now, Proton Mail remains accessible in India, based on tests of the platform’s website. No official comment has been made by the company regarding the court’s decision.
This isn’t the first time Proton Mail has faced scrutiny in India. In 2023, officials in Tamil Nadu sought to ban the service after it was allegedly used to send fake bomb threats to local schools. At that time, the Indian IT ministry asked internet providers to block the platform, but the intervention of Swiss authorities halted the move.
Proton Mail previously warned that blocking its service only impacts everyday users trying to maintain privacy, while those with criminal intent can simply switch to other tools. The company has long promoted itself as a secure, encrypted email solution for individuals who value privacy.
The issue remains ongoing, with further investigation being pursued by both the Ministry of Home Affairs and state authorities following similar concerns raised by the Delhi High Court last year.
