India's next targets: Google, Skype
Summary
India has instructed Google and Skype to allow its government to monitor their customer data or face being banned.
Topics
India has instructed Google and Skype to allow its government to monitor their customer data or face being banned from operating in the world's second-most populated nation, according to a new report.
An AFP article on Tuesday confirmed previous reports that the U.S.-based search giant and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service provider were next in line, after Research In Motion, to face scrutiny from the Indian government. AFP said the request to monitor the companies' data will extend to virtual private networks as these services allow remote users to access their corporate network.
According to the newswire, notices will be sent out to the U.S. service providers starting on August 31, where the companies will have to comply with the government's directive or risk being shut down.
This development comes on the heels of the Indian government's move to provide RIM a 60-day grace period, during which government officials will evaluate the BlackBerry maker's counter-proposal to allow its wireless subscribers' communications to be monitored. One such proposal includes placing a RIM server in India to cater to the government's request.
For more of this story, read India: Hand over your data Google, Skype on ZDNet Asia.
Talkback Most Recent of 25 Talkback(s)
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I guess it's time to close those outsourced call centers...
...in Mumbai and New Delhi. Suddenly that cheap labor looks a lot more expensive when it means you have to give their government complete access to your network and VPN. Remember, the problem RIM is having there is because they allow users to encrypt their network communications and prevent the Indian government from snooping at will.
Scubajrr1st Sep 2010 -
RE: India's next targets: Google, Skype
I'm not sure how data encrytion/decryption is conneceted to the costs of running a data center. My guess is it's just a nice way to take a swipe at the Indian IT industry. Considering that RIM already provides access to such data for governments such as the US and Saudi Arabia, I think its not to "expensive" to do so for India as well.
kj27571st Sep 2010 -
RE: India's next targets: Google, Skype
@kj2757 It's not the financial expense of the encryption/decryption, it's the virtual expense in security of allowing agovernment complete access without due process. RIM provides governments access to the data on networks via a specific official requests (in the US this means a search warrent). India wants to have unfettered access to ALL the data all the time. This means that all your corporate data is visible to some government workers in India. (of course we all know tha there are never any corrupt government workers who might suppliment their income by doing a little corporate espionage) The expense the virtual expense of data security.Scubajrr1st Sep 2010 -
RE: India's next targets: Google, Skype
As an Indian, I find this disgusting. Not because my data is being snooped on or this step isn't important in the heightened world of terror India lives in, but there are far more important things that need to be done in the name of Security..
Rahul Mulchandani1st Sep 2010 -
RE: India's next targets: Google, Skype
Way to go India! This is how a 'super power' should've behaved...by bullying everybody in the name of national security!!
wannmann2002@...1st Sep 2010 -
RE: India's next targets: Google, Skype
@wannmann2002@... Actually India had been working with RIM to come up with a solution for over a year. When RIM kept dragging their feet and offered a laughable solution (will allow subject lines to be looked at but not the message), then India had to issue the ultimatum. Super powers should be able to protect their citizens from terrorism.kj27571st Sep 2010 -
RE: India's next targets: Google, Skype
@kj2757 protect them from terrorism? are you an idiot? Do you think that terrorists would use a blackberry if they knew it could be tracked? You are all fools if you think that this will help anyone.
Jimster4801st Sep 2010 -
India must call the USA for Customer service
I would love that day when people from india have to call the USA for customer service. My name will be hapu instead of bob. it will be fun to have india people yelling at USA customer service people because they can not understand english language. Remember folks what come around goes around.
rupaa621st Sep 2010 -
RE: India's next targets: Google, Skype
@rupaa62
Oh, My God ! I am in the Library laughing my head off !
Your statement my friend is so true. I better hush from my laughter, before they cart me out of here...
Michael Aldridge1st Sep 2010 -
RE: India's next targets: Google, Skype
Must be the idea proposed by some jerk-ass Indian politician. They got nothing better to do ( and they also happened to get a PAY HIKE for doing all this)
Why don't they spend some money on beefing up cyber security instead of spending Rs 35000 Crores ( $7 Billion) on the Commonwealth Games ( Initial Budget was less than 1000 crores - and it;s supposed to start next month - the stadiums are not ready yet ) - there was so many more important issues at hand.
- An Indian
orangearrows1st Sep 2010 -
RE: India's next targets: Google, Skype
@orangearrows good point, I have not heard complaints from British or US security officials about these services.
My guest is that these countries are having to demand this access because there security services crap.
Knowles21st Sep 2010 -
RE: India's next targets: Google, Skype
For all those making light or criticizing this move, let me highlight some important facts:
1. The Mumbai terrorist attacks in which hundreds of innocent civilians were slaughtered by Pakistani terrorists was carried out by using such tools as email, satellite phone, and text messages.
2. RIM has agreed to host a server and allow access to data to the Saudi Arabian government.
3. The Indian government has been working with RIM for over a year to come up with a workable solution but has been met with almost complete silence and no help.
I hate to say this....but if you live in a part of the world where the government already snoops on your data and as a result you have a lot less to worry about, then it's very easy to make light of other governments trying to do the same for their citizens. Or is it because of an in-built anti-India bias you people have, where you blame Indians for taking away jobs that are in fact being taken away by your companies. Or is it just that Indian lives are a bit less valuable when it comes to protection from terrorism and then data privacy and civil liberties all of sudden become sacrosanct.kj27571st Sep 2010 -
RE: India's next targets: Google, Skype
@kj2757 I completely disagree with them giving a server to Saudi Arabia. But it matters little to me becaues I am not a RIM user. But RIM's security is now completely worthless because governments such as these can just snoop on your communications as they please.
Emails and text messages being sent, have nothing to do with the matter at hand. Like I said in a previous post, you cannot actually believe that terrorists would use a device they know is being tracked and scanned do you? If you do then you must be a fool.Jimster4801st Sep 2010 -
RE: India's next targets: Google, Skype
@Jimster480
Not so unbelievable! Hard to track something that has blown up.
windozefreak1st Sep 2010 -
RE: India's next targets: Google, Skype
Searches on private data has to be authorized by a judge under a warrant... Without that, it's unacceptable.
If VPNs will have to be opened for their official eyes, then we better move out and bring back our stuff to US.
FuzzyIce1st Sep 2010
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