Access member only content, take part in discussions with comments on blogs, news and reviews and receive all the latest security industry news directly to your inbox. Join now for free.
A confirmation email has been sent to your email address - SUPPLIED EMAIL HERE. Please click on the link in the email to verify your email address. You need to verify your email before you can start posting.
If you do not receive your confirmation email within the next few minutes, it may be because the email has been captured by a junk mail filter. Please ensure you add the domain @scmagazine.com.au to your white-listed senders.
India’s security agencies want access to secure communications provided by Google, Skype and similar service providers to monitor terrorist threats.
“There are a whole list of companies that have been asked to give [access], provide monitoring solution, because law enforcement agencies, the home ministry and intelligence agencies want that information for national security," Ministry of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot reportedly told media in New Delhi on Wednesday.
“Papers were exchanged months ago” between India and service providers but Google and Skype denied they had received communications on the matter, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The call for greater powers to combat terrorists came as three bomb blasts hit Mumbai today, killing at least 21 people and injuring more than 100. Officials said terrorists were behind the attacks, the first on the city since the three-day seige in 2008.
India's demands so far have focused on Research in Motion's BlackBerry communications. However, last year Nokia installed servers within India to allow authorities to monitor email and web communications.
Officials were at that time debating whether to make similar demands of internet voice and messaging services, according to an IDG report last September.
India had demanded RIM provide intercept capabilities to all communications conducted on BlackBerry devices; however RIM argued that email intercepts were not possible because its customers held the decryption key to each BlackBerry Enterprise Server, not it.
The ability to intercept Google and Skype communications could force the companies to follow Nokia's lead by requiring the companies to locate servers inside India.
To begin commenting right away, you can log in below or register an account if you don't yet have one. Please read our guidelines on commenting. Offending posts will be removed and your access may be suspended. Abusive or obscene language will not be tolerated. The comments below do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of SC Magazine, Haymarket Media or its employees.