Keep taking down offensive email addresses: Karnataka HC to Switzerland-based Proton Mail
In April, the Karnataka High Court had issued directions to the Centre to begin the process to block Proton Mail after M Moser Design Associates complained that several of its women employees received 'obscene' and 'AI-generated material' through Proton Mail.
The Karnataka High Court had ordered at the time, 'Mandamus issued to respondents – Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) and Ministry of Communications to initiate proceedings in terms of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000 read with Rule 10 of the IT Procedure and Safeguards of Blocking of Access to Information by Public Access Rules, 2009 to block ProtonMail.'
Last year, the Delhi High Court had also directed the police and the Centre to examine the use of Proton Mail in India.
During the hearing on Thursday, Moser's counsel had argued that Proton Mail's servers were located outside the country to avoid the provisions of the IT Act, and only the Swiss government has access to them.
Proton Mail argued that there were issues with the service of summons in the initial case. The counsel of the Union Government stated that proceedings to examine whether the email service should be blocked were underway, and the exercise was expected to take about eight weeks.
Moser's counsel Jatin Sehgal complained that they were 'still receiving emails from the portal.'
In response to this, the high court told Proton Mail, 'If he is receiving emails, he will give the URL to you. You will block it.' The court directed that complaints be submitted to the nodal officer of Proton Mail dealing with these issues.
The matter will be heard next on August 20.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Gilgit-Baltistan: A New Uprising In Pakistan's ‘Last Colony' Against Oppressive Rule
Last Updated: For decades, GB has sought autonomy, political representation, and development aligned with local needs and ambitions, but has faced growing neglect and exploitation from Pakistan A fresh wave of resistance against the Pakistani state's illegal occupation of the region is being witnessed in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). The local traders and business community of GB have launched a movement to oppose trade and travel between Pakistan and China via the Khunjerab Pass. This latest protest is the outcome of the relentlessly exploitative economic and political conditions imposed on GB by the Pakistani state. The protest by the traders has come close on the heels of a mass movement by the local residents of GB against the controversial Land Reforms Act, 2025, passed on May 21. For the last four weeks, traders have been continuing with a sit-in at the Karakoram Highway, bringing the region to a standstill. They are demanding recognition of local interests by Islamabad as well as its accountability. To understand GB's tumultuous relationship with Islamabad, it is important to look at the history of this asymmetric and oppressive power dynamic, which continues to disenfranchise, marginalise, and politically erase the identity, aspirations, and future of the people of this region. According to the US-based Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), Pakistan has treated GB more as a colony rather than as part of the federation. 'The region has long been regarded by Pakistan not as a cherished part of the federation, but as a distant and burdensome periphery. Successive governments have turned a blind eye to the fundamental needs of the humble inhabitants of Gilgit-Baltistan, relegating the region to an ad hoc governance framework administered from afar—governed not by participatory laws, but by decrees handed down from Islamabad," says a recent MEMRI report. The origins of this injustice lie in the 1949 Karachi Agreement. Under this 'agreement", the control of GB (then called Northern Areas) was transferred from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) to Islamabad without any representative from the region. Since then, Islamabad has directly ruled GB through the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs, using the draconian colonial-era Frontier Crimes Regulation. Its constitutional status remains in limbo as Pakistan has tried to use it to build another false narrative by linking it to the resolution of the Kashmir issue with India. But to deal with growing frustration among the local residents, it introduced limited self-governance reforms to the region, renaming it 'Gilgit and Baltistan' in 2009. However, this move was exposed as hollow; right from the beginning, the GB assembly was systematically populated by 'compliant figureheads or puppets, rather than leaders who dared to interpret their roles with independence and purpose," as emphasised in the MEMRI analysis. For decades, GB has sought autonomy, political representation, and development aligned with local needs and aspirations, but instead has faced growing neglect and exploitative policies from Pakistan. The Pakistani magazine Herald once described Gilgit-Baltistan as Pakistan's 'last colony", a phrase that aptly reflects Islamabad's governing attitude toward the region. Very recently, GB was engulfed in massive demonstrations against the forcibly passed Land Reforms Act, 2025. This legislation was opposed by the people, as it would enable land grabs by Punjabi landlords and the Pakistani military, displace the local population, and exploit natural resources. This law would also intensify military control. As GB is the only region under Pakistan's occupation that has a Shia and Ismaili majority, Islamabad has also undertaken a systematic campaign of altering the demography by opening up the region to outsiders. Now, fed up with increasing federal taxes and deliberate obstacles to local trade, GB traders—backed by a host of local political parties and religious groups—have sustained a resilient sit-in at Sost. This powerful show of solidarity and demand for justice compelled Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan and Governor Mehdi Shah to seek federal intervention, leading to the formation of a federal committee to make recommendations for the issue's resolution. The protestors' demands are simple: exemption from income, sales, and other federal taxes on commodities imported from China through the Khunjerab Pass—deemed illegal by traders considering GB's lack of constitutional status—and urgent customs clearance for 280 consignments stuck at Sost Dry Port under a one-time amnesty scheme. Ironically, while Gilgit-Baltistan is considered to be geographically very significant for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Islamabad's treatment of local traders sends a clear message that it is least bothered about the interests of the local population and is only interested in exploiting the strategic position and resources of the region. All routes connecting Pakistan to China, including the critical Karakoram Highway, pass through GB, which should ideally have brought more economic opportunities for the local population. However, in contrast, it has resulted in increased Chinese military presence. This reinforces the fact that Pakistan follows the template of exploiting the region while keeping the people underdeveloped. If the locals dare to express their aspirations, they are handled brutally by the Pakistani military and its death squads. Therefore, the traders' blockade in GB represents more than an economic conflict—it is the roar of a voice silenced for decades from a region long suffering under the thumb of Islamabad's colonial and oppressive policies. The writer is an author and columnist. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. tags : China Kashmir pakistan view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 16, 2025, 22:02 IST News opinion Global Watch | Gilgit-Baltistan: A New Uprising In Pakistan's 'Last Colony' Against Oppressive Rule Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Congo condemns Kenya's Goma consul move as breach of international law
Congo has rejected Kenya's appointment of a consul general in Goma, accusing Nairobi of breaching international law and bypassing diplomatic protocol Abandoned Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that belonged to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) is seen at Goma airport after the town was seized by the M23 rebels, in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. File image/ Reuters The Congolese government rejected Kenya's appointment of a consul general in the conflict-torn city of Goma on Saturday, claiming a breach of international law and a lack of proper diplomatic procedures. Goma, in eastern Congo, has been the site of a struggle between the Congolese government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, which launched a lightning assault on the mineral-rich regional city in January. After many days of combat, the rebels took control of the city, and the Congolese army fled. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As required by international law and diplomatic protocol, Kenya did not communicate with the Congolese government in Kinshasa prior to making the declaration, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday. M23, which is one of about a hundred groups fighting in eastern Congo, has attempted to establish a parallel government in the region, saying it is freeing the region from what it alleges is misrule by Kinshasa. M23 has been accused of widespread abuses, and Congo's government argued that that the way Kenya nominated the diplomat to the occupied city of Goma without informing the Congolese government could appear to legitimize the rebel group's occupation. Kenya's announcement was made Friday as part of a raft of diplomatic appointments. Congo's foreign ministry called for 'caution and discernment in public communication to avoid any misunderstanding, speculation, or the appearance of legitimization of the ongoing illegal occupation.' Qatar has tried to mediate between the Congolese government and the rebel group, which led to the signing of a 'declaration of principles' to end the decades-long fighting, but talks have since faltered and fighting has resumed. The conflict has been a magnet for neighbouring countries, including Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Kenya, all of which have had troops on the grounds, complicating regional efforts to end the fighting. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Christian Moleka, a Congo-based political analyst, told The Associated Press that the appointment might have regional implications. He said it could reinforce Kinshasa's distrust of Kenya, which has been moving closer to Rwanda under President William Ruto, and weaken regional initiatives to establish peace.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Two-slab 'Next Gen GST' to pay way for single tax rate by 2047: Centre
Describing the proposed GST tax reforms as Next Gen GST', senior government officials on Saturday said that the two-slab tax regime will eventually pave the way for a single sales/services tax rate, hopefully by 2047. They said the proposed new GST regime, which slashes tax rates and assigns just two slabs of 5 per cent and 18 per cent, will boost the economy and also serve to mitigate tariff threats. The proposed two-slab regime, if approved by the GST Council, will replace the current four slabs in the goods and services tax (GST) regime, doing away with the 12 per cent and 28 per cent slabs. Calling it the "next Gen GST', one government official said "it is a game changer reform. In the pantheon of economic reforms seen in India, it's right up there." The officials spoke on condition of anonymity. They said the new structure would mean that almost all of the common use items will move to the lower tax bracket, leading to price cuts, which in turn would boost consumption. "Lower taxes means it will put more money in people's pockets. It will obviously lead to more consumption," the official said. The Centre's proposal for a 5 and 18 per cent tax rate on merit and standard goods and a 40 per cent tax for sin goods, has been a large canvas exercise to ensure stability in tax rates, the officials said, explaining the rationale behind the exercise. The changes that have come about after nearly six months of deliberations and dozens of meetings, have been conceived in a way so as to ensure that demand for tax tweaks do not come and also input tax credit (ITC) do not get accumulated in the system. Once the Centre's proposal is accepted by the Group of Ministers (GoM) and is approved by the GST Council, it will end the flux of tax rates and ensure stability, the officials said. What we have suggested is a Next Gen GST' keeping the needs of the middle class, poor, farmers, and MSMEs in mind. Also, it has been ensured that tax on daily use items are low, the official told PTI. "Once the system is put in place and India becomes a developed nation, we can think about a single rate GST," said the official, adding that a single rate structure is suitable for developed countries where income and spending capacities are uniform. The ultimate aim is to move to a single slab structure, the official said, adding that the time, however, is not right at present. The official said that during the process of overhaul, every due process is being followed. The Centre has taken the steering role but is protecting constitutional obligations by sharing it with the Group of Ministers (GoM) on rate rationalisation. "We have looked at every item, item by item and in some cases we have gone back and forth 3-4 times. Whether it is pesticide for use by farmers or pencils for students or some raw material or intermediaries for MSMEs, every item has been discussed threadbare and categorised in the merit or standard slab, the official added. As many as 99 per cent of the items in the 12 per cent category such as butter, fruit juices and dry fruits would move to 5 per cent tax rate. Similarly, electronic items like ACs, TVs, fridges, and washing machines as well as other goods like cement will be among the 90 per cent of the items that would move from 28 per cent to lower 18 per cent slab. The move comes after US President Donald Trump slapped a 25 per cent tariff on all goods India exports to the US, and planned doubling of the levy to 50 per cent from August 27 to punish New Delhi for its oil purchases from Russia. The tariffs are likely to impact USD 40-billion of non-exempt Indian exports such as that of gems and jewellery, textiles and footwear. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address to the nation on Friday emphasised that India should become self-reliant and consume what is made in India. The tax slabs that the Union Finance Ministry has proposed will go to a group of ministers from different states and after their concurrence will be placed before the all-powerful GST Council, which is headed by Union Finance Minister and comprises representatives of all states and UTs. The Council is expected to meet next month to deliberate on the tax reform proposal. About 20 per cent of items, including packaged food and beverages, apparel and hotel accommodation currently are taxed at 12 per cent GST and accounts for 5-10 per cent of consumption and 5-6 per cent GST revenue. Moving them to a lower 5 per cent slab may lead to loss of revenue but the Central government is hopeful that a boost in consumption would be able to make up for the deficit in the next few months. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
