Data encryption policy blamed on lack of talent, key changes: Report

Data encryption policy blamed on lack of talent, key changes: Report

The whole draft encryption policy episode has left netizens with a bitter-sweet taste. And now, the blame game has begun.

Soon after the government retracted the policy and said it was simply wrongly worded which led to the confusion, it has blamed a junior scientist for the fiasco. An official now told The Economic Times that ‘you think anything in the government moves without due procedure? All I can tell you is that all rules and regulations were followed.’

The report adds that some officials said that the junior officer didn’t seek advice of higher-ups while some other said they were out of the country.

Citing an official of a Big Four consultancy firm who didn’t want to reveal his identity, the report adds that DeitY has undergone several changes and this could have affected the function and decision making.

Director general of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) responsible to manage the technology of the entire government machinery has been vacant for more than a year now. However, a senior officer said there are many competent people who can take on additional responsibilities.

The government had released a draft encryption policy aimed at keeping a tab on the use of technology by specifying algorithms and length of encryption keys used by ‘all’. It wanted businesses, telcos and Internet companies to store all encrypted data for 90 days in plain text which should be presented before the law enforcement agencies whenever asked to. Moreover, failing to do so would mean legal action as per the laws of the country.

After a huge outcry, the government put out an addendum clarifying the exempted products such as social media sites including WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter; payment gateways; e-commerce and password based transactions and more from the draft policy. The outcry finally led the government to withdraw the draft policy.

Recommended

Users'interest should drive encryption policy: IAMAI

Encryption is a fundamental and necessary tool to safeguard digital communication infrastructure but the interests of Internet users should be foremost in framing any policy, the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) said here on Tuesday. “Trust, convenience and confidence of users are the keywords to designing an ideal encryption policy that will help ...

Caution needed with anti-encryption tools that dodge data retention surveillance

Hot on the heels of Canberra's successful push for mandatory retention of telco records about who we call, and how much we web surf, and when we email, we sense a new debate about technologies that scramble the actual contents of our communications, so an investigator may be able to work out who we called or mailed, but never what ...

Recommendation of Folder Encryption Software

Recently I downloaded a folder encryption software, Best Folder Encryptor. Generally speaking, Best Folder Encryptor is quite good. Compared with other folder encryption software usually adopting common fast encryption method, Best Folder Encryptor is different and provides 5 kinds of encryption methods. The first two methods are quite common fast encryption method, and the following ...

Iran blocks encrypted messaging apps amid nationwide protests

For the past six days, citizens have taken to the streets across Iran, protesting government oppression and the rising cost of goods. Video broadcasts from the country have shown increasingly intense clashes between protesters and riot police, with as many as 21 people estimated to have died since the protests began. But a complex fight ...

暂无评论

发表评论

您的电子邮件地址不会被公开,必填项已用*标注。

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.