The High Court of Karnataka has issued an order to block Proton Mail, the end-to-end encrypted email service, across India. The ruling, delivered on April 29, stems from a legal complaint filed by M Moser Design Associated India Pvt Ltd in January 2025.

## The Complaint and Ruling

According to LiveLaw, the company alleged that its staff received emails containing obscene language, AI-generated deepfake imagery, and sexually explicit content. Justice M Nagaprasanna directed the Indian government to “initiate proceedings in terms of section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2008” to block Proton Mail.

The court further ordered that “till such proceedings are taken up and concluded by the government of India, the offending uniform resource locators (URLs) shall be blocked forthwith.” Despite this ruling, Proton Mail remains accessible in India at the time of reporting.

## Previous Concerns

This marks the second time Proton Mail has faced potential banning in India. Following reports of hoax bomb threats sent through the service last year, the Swiss company stated it is “resolutely against the use of Proton services for purposes that are contrary to Swiss law.”

While Swiss law prevents Proton from directly sharing data with foreign authorities, the company must comply with orders from Swiss authorities, who may collaborate with international agencies to address illegal activities. Proton emphasized that while their encryption provides strong privacy protections, users cannot use the service for illegal purposes under Swiss law.