Several VPN providers, including SurfShark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN, have removed their servers in India due to threats to user privacy.

In India, the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has given cloud service providers and virtual private network providers a three-month extension to comply with its newly drafted VPN guidelines. 

VPN privacy information owned:

CERT-In had asked VPN providers on April 26 to keep for five years or longer information such as:

  • valid names of customers,
  • the duration for which they used the service,
  • IP addresses assigned to those users,
  • email addresses, 
  • The time stamps are used when registering those customers with the service.

The organization also wants VPN providers to maintain data on the purpose for which customers use their services, their validated addresses and contact information, and the ownership patterns of customers.

According to an order issued by the ministry’s cyber-arm, the timeline for implementing these Cyber Security Directions has been extended by several requests from micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. 

 

Government Statements:

CERT-In stated in its directive of April 26 that

“Cognisable offence using computer resources or for the handling of any cyber incident” which may lead to any disturbance in the “sovereignty or integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states or public order”.

Rajeev Chandrashekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, warned VPN companies that they may leave the country if they do not follow the norms. he said;

“If you’re a VPN that wants to hide and be anonymous about those who use VPNs and you don’t want to go by these rules, then if you want to pull out (from the country), frankly, that is the only opportunity you will have. You will have to pull out,” 

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