If you were worried that deleting WhatsApp, Facebook and Viber chats could put you behind bars, fret not. In a complete u-turn, the government has withdrawn the proposed National Encryption policy that may have landed you in trouble for deleting your WhatsApp, Facebook messages before 90 days. Here's all you need to know about the now-withdrawn policy draft
Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has announced that the government has decided to withdraw the draft of National Encryption Policy. "I personally feel that some of the expression used in the draft are giving rise to uncalled-for misgivings. Therefore, I have written to DeitY to withdraw that draft, rework it properly and thereafter put in the public domain," telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.
Prasad said that in view of the concerns raised, he has asked the draft to be withdrawn, made changes to and then re-released. The telecom also clarified that it is just a draft and not a policy of the government. "Yesterday, it was brought to our notice that draft has been put in the public domain seeking comments. I wish to make it very clear that it is just a draft and not the view of the government. I have noted concerns expressed... by the public," Prasad said.
The union government had put up a draft National Encryption Policy document online seeking to prescribe the methods of encryption of data and communications used by the government, businesses, and even citizens. The document says that the policy’s mission is to "provide confidentiality of information in cyberspace for individuals, protection of sensitive or proprietary information for individuals & businesses, ensuring continuing reliability and integrity of nationally critical information systems and networks."
