After BlackBerry, the Centre has reportedly targeted other instant messaging services, such as those of Google and Skype, over security concerns. This has caused a furore among Internet users in India.
The Centre had on Thursday served an ultimatum to Canada’s Research in Motion to enable access to encrypted BlackBerry communications in a readable format by Indian security agencies by August 31. It also appears to have trained its guns on Google and Skype messaging services, considering them to be security threats as well.
Communications ministry officials have had suspicions about Google and Skype services being used for “unlawful activities”, but Google claimed it was clueless on the matter. “We have received no communication from the government to this effect and cannot comment on speculation,” a Google spokesperson said.
Terming the move “illogical and extreme”, cyber security expert Ankit Fadia told this newspaper: “Terrorists can communicate and send encrypted messages in any way they like... it need not be only through Google or Skype.”
Alok Kejriwal, CEO of Internet company Games2-win.com, added: “Militants also buy SIM cards and use PCOs. Does this mean the government will stop all communication devices?”
Added Praveen, a college student: “Technology is open for all, and people like us know only simple applications like Google and Skype.” He went on to add: “There are new technologies emerging every day, and terrorists will find ways and means to use them. So why ban simple and easy applications like this?” Google and Skype have already been on the Centre’s radar for more than a year now, following suspicions about the use of Internet telephony during the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. While about 40 million people use Google services in the country, the Skype user base in India is estimated to be around 20 million.