Telegram refuses to deliver ISIS chat details in India
Instant messaging app Telegram refused to deliver chat details of the ISIS module Ansa-ul-Khilafah Kerale after numerous requests from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in India. Telegram refused to share any details about its users. The fact Telegram servers are located outside of India; There are no Telegram representatives in India; and Telegram’s encryption keys are stored outside India makes it difficult to obtain encrypted data requested by the government. The Indian government hopes that through amendments to the intermediary liability rules, it will be easier to enforce liability to intermediaries such as Telegram. The government supports the provision that any intermediary with more than 50 000 users in India should be registered and incorporated under the Companies Act 1956. Telegram was previously banned in Russia and Iran for refusing to provide encrypted user data to both governments.
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