Maharashtra Cyber Cell Seeks Ban on Wikipedia, Proton Mail
The Maharashtra Cyber Cell has urged the central government to block access to Wikipedia in India, citing repeated non-compliance with legal notices regarding objectionable and defamatory content. The request was made to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology after Wikipedia failed to act on multiple communications from law enforcement agencies. An FIR was previously registered following the publication of objectionable content, and the Wikimedia Foundation was issued several notices demanding removal of the material and disclosure of the user’s details. However, no cooperation was received. Authorities have now warned that in accordance with Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the platform could be blocked if it continues to defy Indian legal procedures.
Proton Mail Misuse
The email service Proton Mail has also come under fire for allegedly being used in a series of cybercrimes in Maharashtra. “Proton Mail has been misused in a number of cases and they have not responded to our legal notices or cooperated with the investigation.” Among the cases cited were bomb threats sent to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, malicious emails intended to damage the reputation of a prominent school, and obscene emails targeting a woman and her social circle. FIRs were registered and legal notices sent requesting user information to aid in the investigations, but Proton Mail allegedly failed to respond to any of them. This lack of cooperation has prompted authorities to recommend the platform’s blockade under the IT Act.
IT Act Enforcement
“Several notices have been sent to both platforms under the IT Act. If they do not comply, we have no option but to ask for them to be blocked in India,” stated a senior official from Maharashtra Cyber. The agency stressed that while such platforms often claim to uphold privacy and free speech, their anonymity features are increasingly being exploited for malicious activities. Maharashtra Cyber officials argue that unchecked platforms not complying with Indian legal processes undermine the nation’s ability to counter digital threats and protect its citizens from cybercrime. As India continues to face evolving cybersecurity challenges, the emphasis on compliance with national laws is becoming more critical than ever.
